He’s always said that he wants to prove his stuff on a BCS level, but to do so would require a BCS team that actually wants him. So far, none have. SMU might be the next best thing. Maybe he’ll go the Urban Meyer route. There weren’t any BCS schools who wanted him out of Bowling Green, but they all wanted him when he took Utah to a BCS game. Does anyone have any doubt that PJ could go undefeated in Conference USUCK?
There’s not oneword about Paul Johnson coming to SMU on their scout.com forum. I would think if it’s a close to being a done deal as this guy says it is, there at least be some mention of it.
They don’t use that site. Go to ponyfans.com. They aren’t talking about anything else. Usual grain of salt with message board information applies, of course.
I don’t understand the timing. Implies that PJ has been taking calls and doing interviews. I would have thought all that would have been put on hold until after Saturday. I guess I’m naive.
Agree w/ whynotnavy — PJ would not allow this to happen. If and to the extent that this is true, he would be livid if it came out on the eve of the Army game.
If this is true, I put the blame squarely on the new Supe. I am not kidding. I wouldn’t feel that way if he were leaving for GT or NEB or even Duke. I still find it very hard to believe though. I guess we’ll know soon enough.
If this is true, I have to believe the new Supe was a factor. For instance,14 players losing 20+ pounds each at undersupplied t-tables is not something he would accept readily, IMHO.
My strategy last year was just to try to ignore all of these rumors and hope they go away. I’ve been trying that again this year. That being said, I’m wearing my shirt tomorrow.
Doug — I must have missed the weight loss issue. Is this true?
Supe needs to be careful. The decision at the beginning of the year to limit brigade travel to games was ill-advised. Yes, we’re at war, but the football program is hardly a distraction from training. (What was that quote from MacArthur on Army’s program? — “On these fields of friendly strife are sown the seeds of future victory.”)
Thankfully, the ‘Dant seems to get it. Not sure that a day off was necessary after the ND win, but it spoke volumes about the brigade’s support for the program. Also, her decision to name Zerb as the BC shows that the leadership of the football players is valued. (I think the BC selection is the ‘Dants decision — I may be wrong on this.)
As a non-football-player alum who sees a great deal of value in the football program, allow me to make an observation: There are two views to the football program: one is the view that players get breaks and operate under a different set of rules. This view, which seems to spawn mutual resentment between players and non-players, is pretty destructive and seemed to prevail for a number of years at Navy. (Not surprisingly, many of those years were the least productive on the field.) The second view is more in line with the MacArthur quote (above) — that the football program is uniquely complementary to the mission of USNA, is important to morale, and is a significant factor in recruiting (not just football players but all potential midshipmen). Guys like Zerb go along way to advancing this second view.
Back to PJ: the Navy job can be tough enough without having to deal with the “mutual resentment” view (the first one discussed above). If and to the extent that this is the view taken by the Supe, I would not blame him for leaving.
I don’t want him to go either, but you guys are obviously not from Texas. While in C-USA, SMU is a big step up from Navy in terms of potential. Facilities and recruiting capability alone make the job a big step up. SMU has better facilities than G Tech and a rabid fan base which would adore what PJ can do for them. Before the 1986 problems SMU was a Southwest Conference power. They are obviously making a play to return themselves to glory. If they land PJ, I would not bet against them.
All that being said, ee has done what he can do here and you can bet he is focused on solidifying his legacy by trashing Army tomorrow. Anywhere he goes I would cheer for him (except obviously Air Force).
Matt – I read this morning (can’t vouch for it) that SMU had 13,000 at their homecoming game this year. That’s not rabid by my definition.
85er – That t-table problem was noted at a talk PJ gave to the NA Foundation recently. It was a several week long King Hall problem according to many sources, not a one day affair as the ‘Dant later blithely asserted.
AGAIN I ASK IF ANY OF THIS IS TRUE THEN HOW COME I HAVE NOT READ ANY RUMORS ABOUT THE NEXT COACH AT NAVY !! IF PJ IS GOING THEN WHO IS THE NEXT HEAD COACH SIMPLE QUESTION !! THE ANSWER IS NO ONE CAUSE IT IS NOT TRUE !! I SAY IT AGAIN STILL MORE TO DO FOR PJ AT NAVY
Good point, but those people aren’t coming to games because they are disgusted. Most places aren’t like USNA, when the fan base is disgusted they don’t show. Though I know many Navy “fans” who did not attaend a single game from 1999-2002. For SMU that disgust is from 1986-2007.
Jholla- I appreciate the love for PJ, but what does he have left to do here. It does not get any better for us here. Dreams of undefeated seasons and knocking off Rutgers, ND, Pitt, and Wake are unrealistic. I think we (myself included) have lost sight of the talent gaps because of PJ.
I hope we keep some of his younger coaches and try to keep the system in place. I know everyone is going to comment by saying HE ISN’T GONE. Believe me, he is gone and I am happy for him, though I will be very sad to see him go.
Why do you say 99% chance that the next coach is Ken Niumatalolo I think Buddy Green has got a shot too . The defense other then this year has been great he has 100 years in the game he is a Quality man he has done well every where he has been and he is the best recruiter on the staff !! THIS IS ALL IF PJ LEAVES WHICH I KNOW HE IS NOT !!
When PJ leaves it has to be Niumatalolo. That is the only way to capitalize on the last five years. Finding something that works is hard. Lets not do that again.
Yeah but dont u think if PJ goes a lot of the other coaches will go with him u need a guy who has been around awhile and can put a great staff together .. what’s up with this t table thing trying to understand
In a nutshell, the new Supe made most meals mandatory at the start of the ac year, and the mess hall wasn’t ready to handle the greatly increased load. Lots of hungry mids, as a result, for the first few weeks. It made the Baltimore and Annapolis papers. As the story goes, PJ went to the AD, who got the Foundation to supplement t-tables.
PS I feel certain there’s not another Div 1 school in the country where the coach has to intercede with his AD to get his players fed, thus my concern with PJ souring on his sense of support at the top.
I think all the coaches except Niumatalolo and Joe Speed would leave with PJ. I also don’t see Green going along. They don’t get along all that well and I think the defense has just been too bad this season. I know it has been because of injuries, inexperience and bad tackling, but still . . .
I have heard the table story from a couple of company officers, but i wil try to stay away from talking about the new Supe and his policies. I prefer football.
Not true about PJ and Green not getting along complete rumor I know both guys very well and that is just not true I agree I dont think Grenn will go with him either if he was to leave !! This is what i hear and trust me this is a good lead .. IF PJ goes which alot of guys r saying he is not .. then it would be between Green and NIU and who ever does’nt get it would then leave too .. BUT AGAIN NO ONE INVOLVED THINKS PJ IS GOING ANY WHERE HE IS NOT GONNA LEAVE A SECURE JOB FOR JUST ANY OTHER GIG TRUST ME HE IS NOT DUMB !! HE CAN STAY AT NAVY GET PAID BETTER THEN MOST COACHES AND HAVE NO PRESURE TO WIN FOR THE NEXT 10 YEARS !! he will only leave for the one job that he has always wanted and only he knows what that job is BUT I CAN TELL U IT IS NOT DUKE , SMU , OR GT u can take that to the bank !!
Heard from a former GT player who is now a college coach somewhere that PJ interviewed at GT either this morning or yesterday. This was from an extremely good source.
Ask players (and former coaches) how much PJ and Green like each other. Nothing wrong with it, they have been a great combination and I think they are both fine Americans. I have been a little down on Green this year (see North Texas debacle), but he was ready on Saturday and that says a lot.
I really enjoy all the folks on this site. Thanks.
I talk to players that palyed last year I talk to players on this years team I talk to coaches on the staff and I TALK TO BOTH GREEN AND JOHNSON I am not saying they r best friends but they respect and like each other !! IT IS A COMPLETE RUMOR I wish people would stop looking for reasons !! AS for NORTH TEXAS I said it a hundred times these guys r young and will get better next year the D will be a strength plus from what I here they have a great class of DB’S AND LB’S COMING IN FROM NAPS I HEARD THE BEST CLASS THEY EVER HAD !! U r not gonna find a better DC OR SOMEONE WHO KNOWS MORE ABOUT THE GAME THEN GREEN !! the reason navy as been so good has been a great mix with in the staff and they recruit better players because of the respect these guys get when they come in to your high school looking for kids this is a trickie thing u change one thing and alot around Navy can change for the worse !! I dont think Johnson is leaving I think he will test the water see what he is worth then in the end come back and we will be doing this again at the same time next year !!!
Nobody’s looking for anything, j holla. Matt was just speculating about who would stay or go, just like the rest of us are wondering. Nothing to get spun up about.
I AGREE WITH U I CANT WAIT FOR THE BOWL GAME I HOPE THIS ALL GOES AWAY FAST !! I AM ONLY GETTING SPUN UP BECAUSE I LOVE THE TEAM AND AND KNOW THE GUYS IN THIS PROGRAM I WISH THIS WOULD GO AWAY !!
I agree with pretty much everything you wrote. Unlike some other places I really appreciate the spirit of all the commenters here
.
I love this team and my style is to worry, worry, worry.
That being said I still think he is going. I know he loves it here, but I also think he (we) will never do significantly better than we have lately. Especially not with the scheduling of the Pitt, Rutgers, Wake, etc for the next few years.
I have also heard that there are several great LB’s at NAPS. Hope they make it.
I can understand u worry i do too but I think in the end it will work out I would loose alot of respect for PJ if he left for Duke Or SMU . not a better place then where he is now trust me and the comment u made way back about the talent gap I HATE THAT EVERYONE CREDITS PJ AND NO ONE SEE’S THE GREAT PLAYERS HERE !! years past maybe that is true but trust me u have kids here that had other d 1 offers but wanted NAVY because of the winning going on now i know kids that had duke temple and even smu but who wants to get your brains beat in every year so they came here I HATE THAT STIGMA PEOPLE PLACE ON THIS TEAM IT MAKES ME SICK is it USC OR LSU no but it’s not like a bunch of kids out of high school had to choose D 3 OR NAVY come on lets get real there is some great players down here I think PJ IS A GREAT COACH BUT HE DOES HAVE TALENT JUST AS MUCH AS DUKE OR SMU !! I saw some clown on an SMU message page say ” who wants PJ LET HIM STAY AT NAVY why would anyone wanna coach those meager service academy loosers ” this is where PJ wants to go come on COMMENTS LIKE THAT GET ME SICK
Lose respect? For what? It’s his life, and “better” is in the eye of the beholder. I know I’ve made career moves that were in the best interests of myself and my family. I wouldn’t begrudge PJ the same opportunity. I’d break down and cry and enter into 40 days of mourning, maybe, but I wouldn’t be angry with him.
Also, people credit PJ because Navy’s program was a trainwreck before he got here, and now it’s the class of service academy football. There’s a pretty direct cause & effect there.
I would lose respect only because i respect him so much and i think he is better then SMU OR DUKE why not just stay here and when somthing better comes then I UNDERSTAND !! I CAN UNDERSTAND NEBRASKA !! EVEN GT BUT DUKE SMU COME ON !! I AGREE HE IS THE REASON FOR THE CHANGE IN THE PROGRAM BUT U GOTTA AGREE NOW IT IS BECAUSE THE TALENT LEVEL IS BETTER THEN PEOPLE GIVE IT CREDIT FOR U SAW IT SAT REGGIE RUNNING PAST ARMY KIDS LIKE THEY WERE STANDING STILL !!
I’m not one to judge what is better for PJ. He can make that decision on his own. Again, what is better to him probably goes beyond what is just a bigger name.
And yes, the talent level is better now. But that is also a direct result of the coaching staff.
I do agree that we have great kids with more talent than WE have ever had.
BUT Did you see the Duke game this season? Did you see the two teams comparative sizes?
More importantly, if you held a 10, 20, or 40 yard dash between the 22 starters on offense and defense
Duke would win 19 or 20 of them. Our lone victories would be our slotbacks over their running backs, and Kaipo over their QB (who has a much better arm: 21TD/11 INT in ACC with subpar OL). The slotbacks-RB’s race is also not fair because their running backs are a lot bigger.
This same sort of comparison applies for every team we played except Army, AF, and Northern Illinois (yes even Temple,Ball State and definitely Delaware have better athletes). Ask PJ, he knows this, and says it over and over.
Luckily the games aren’t played (totally) by size and speed. We have intense, hard workiing, talented players who make things happen and win games.
For a coach who wants to be undefeated and win championships there is more potential at Duke, SMU, Georgia Tech and probably 100 of the 119 D-IA (FCS) schools.
Just my two cents, does anyone else remember 2001?
Guy’s first i wanna say i love this debate AND RESPECT ALL YOUR OPINONS but i laugh when i here this !! the only place where other schools r better I would agree is the lines all teams r bigger and stronger!! RB’S AND SLOT BACKS I am a coach and i have not seen a team that we played this year with better fullbacks Ballard and Ketani slot backs which on most other teams would be there slot wr very equal with the teams we played !! on the D the same thing up front is where we suffer our db’s and lb’s r just as good as the teams u talked about I know cause I got Kids I coached in high school in all these places including here at NAVY the diffrence is up front DE DT NG .. OL we dont get those guys big guys who can run but athlete wise we get kids who were over looked not cause of speed !! I got kids at RUTGERS , DUKE TEMPLE AND USC and the kid I sent to Navy was a better football player then all of them he had some D1 OFFERS a ton of D1AA OFFERS but he wanted to go some where special thats why he is here not cause he has no where else to go !! And if he raced the guys he played with who r on the teams i talked about he would win !! Johnson loves talking about the talent someone wrote about this couple of weeks back a fan said this to some reporter he then asked PJ a fan asked how come when we loose it is the talent but when we win it is great coaching His response was tell that guy I DONT GO TO MCDONALDS and tell that guy how to do his job !! I QUOTE NOW COME GUYS IT CANT BE BOTH WAYS ! I am not saying they can play USC OR LSU but they r a better team then the DUKES OR THE TEMPLES OF THE WORLD Yes i do remember 01 but we r getting better kids now because what these guys have done here!! recruiting is very funny put a team in a bowl game and people would wanna be apart of it .. NAVY footbal is bigger then Johnson it will survive trust me I STILL HOPE HE STAYS CAUSE HE IS A GREAT COACH
I think that if PJ left, and he will some day, that his protege, Niumatalolo, will take over as head coach. Almost like a passing of the torch. It seems that Niumatalolo was hand picked by Johnson in the early days to be his pupil. Niumatalolo has been with PJ a while and seems to have gleened a lot of knowledge. Sure, Navy will probably dip that first year, but I’m sure we’ll pick right back up. Besides, Navy has always had great athletes; it all depends on the system and the coach. With the success of the triple option at Navy, I don’t see the system changing anytime soon. It is all the matter of finding the correct coach who knows this and will carry on the system. That person is Niumatalolo…or Tom Osborne (just kidding).
I love the debate and you make some good points . . .but if our DB’s are equal to anyone then why do we use eleven yard cushions and still routinely get beat deep by mediocre teams. I know the light pass rush does not help, but it isn’t just the pass rush.
I think we are going to have to agree to disagree on this one. Maybe we can settle when we play against PJ with him coaching SMU or Duke next year. I know where my money is . . . actually I would never bet on a Navy game. I care to much.
Ha Ha !! Well i never said anyone I said as good as the teams we play !! it is real hard coaching defense at a big time college with the spread O and the athletes u play !! and by the way R U SAYING U R BETTING DUKE OR SMU OVER NAVY !!
I WILL SAY THIS TO PROVE MY POINT TAKE LAST YEARS D WITH THIS YEARS O AND WE MIGHT HAVE ONLY ONE LOSS THAT IS THE TRUTH!! AND WHO KNOWS MAYBE A BIGGER BOWL GAME !! THE ONLY GAME I THINK WE WOULD HAVE LOST ANYWAY WOULD HAVE BEEN AT RUTGERS BUT A MUCH CLOSER SCORE !!
The Birddog 
Dodd is throwing stuff against the wall hoping it sticks. CUSA is not a step up from Navy.
He’s always said he wants to prove his stuff at a BCS conference. Doesn’t fit.
SMU? really? I could fully understand a BCS school…but Conference USA? if this is true, I don’t know what to say…
He’s always said that he wants to prove his stuff on a BCS level, but to do so would require a BCS team that actually wants him. So far, none have. SMU might be the next best thing. Maybe he’ll go the Urban Meyer route. There weren’t any BCS schools who wanted him out of Bowling Green, but they all wanted him when he took Utah to a BCS game. Does anyone have any doubt that PJ could go undefeated in Conference USUCK?
There’s not oneword about Paul Johnson coming to SMU on their scout.com forum. I would think if it’s a close to being a done deal as this guy says it is, there at least be some mention of it.
I just don’t see it happening.
They don’t use that site. Go to ponyfans.com. They aren’t talking about anything else. Usual grain of salt with message board information applies, of course.
I don’t understand the timing. Implies that PJ has been taking calls and doing interviews. I would have thought all that would have been put on hold until after Saturday. I guess I’m naive.
Agree w/ whynotnavy — PJ would not allow this to happen. If and to the extent that this is true, he would be livid if it came out on the eve of the Army game.
If this is true, I put the blame squarely on the new Supe. I am not kidding. I wouldn’t feel that way if he were leaving for GT or NEB or even Duke. I still find it very hard to believe though. I guess we’ll know soon enough.
If this is true, I have to believe the new Supe was a factor. For instance,14 players losing 20+ pounds each at undersupplied t-tables is not something he would accept readily, IMHO.
I don’t know what to believe anymore. It kills me that Army is in 2 days and I’m barely thinking about it. What a crappy distraction.
My strategy last year was just to try to ignore all of these rumors and hope they go away. I’ve been trying that again this year. That being said, I’m wearing my shirt tomorrow.
Doug — I must have missed the weight loss issue. Is this true?
Supe needs to be careful. The decision at the beginning of the year to limit brigade travel to games was ill-advised. Yes, we’re at war, but the football program is hardly a distraction from training. (What was that quote from MacArthur on Army’s program? — “On these fields of friendly strife are sown the seeds of future victory.”)
Thankfully, the ‘Dant seems to get it. Not sure that a day off was necessary after the ND win, but it spoke volumes about the brigade’s support for the program. Also, her decision to name Zerb as the BC shows that the leadership of the football players is valued. (I think the BC selection is the ‘Dants decision — I may be wrong on this.)
As a non-football-player alum who sees a great deal of value in the football program, allow me to make an observation: There are two views to the football program: one is the view that players get breaks and operate under a different set of rules. This view, which seems to spawn mutual resentment between players and non-players, is pretty destructive and seemed to prevail for a number of years at Navy. (Not surprisingly, many of those years were the least productive on the field.) The second view is more in line with the MacArthur quote (above) — that the football program is uniquely complementary to the mission of USNA, is important to morale, and is a significant factor in recruiting (not just football players but all potential midshipmen). Guys like Zerb go along way to advancing this second view.
Back to PJ: the Navy job can be tough enough without having to deal with the “mutual resentment” view (the first one discussed above). If and to the extent that this is the view taken by the Supe, I would not blame him for leaving.
I don’t want him to go either, but you guys are obviously not from Texas. While in C-USA, SMU is a big step up from Navy in terms of potential. Facilities and recruiting capability alone make the job a big step up. SMU has better facilities than G Tech and a rabid fan base which would adore what PJ can do for them. Before the 1986 problems SMU was a Southwest Conference power. They are obviously making a play to return themselves to glory. If they land PJ, I would not bet against them.
All that being said, ee has done what he can do here and you can bet he is focused on solidifying his legacy by trashing Army tomorrow. Anywhere he goes I would cheer for him (except obviously Air Force).
Matt – I read this morning (can’t vouch for it) that SMU had 13,000 at their homecoming game this year. That’s not rabid by my definition.
85er – That t-table problem was noted at a talk PJ gave to the NA Foundation recently. It was a several week long King Hall problem according to many sources, not a one day affair as the ‘Dant later blithely asserted.
AGAIN I ASK IF ANY OF THIS IS TRUE THEN HOW COME I HAVE NOT READ ANY RUMORS ABOUT THE NEXT COACH AT NAVY !! IF PJ IS GOING THEN WHO IS THE NEXT HEAD COACH SIMPLE QUESTION !! THE ANSWER IS NO ONE CAUSE IT IS NOT TRUE !! I SAY IT AGAIN STILL MORE TO DO FOR PJ AT NAVY
You aren’t going to hear rumors before the job actually opens up.
Doug-
Good point, but those people aren’t coming to games because they are disgusted. Most places aren’t like USNA, when the fan base is disgusted they don’t show. Though I know many Navy “fans” who did not attaend a single game from 1999-2002. For SMU that disgust is from 1986-2007.
Jholla- I appreciate the love for PJ, but what does he have left to do here. It does not get any better for us here. Dreams of undefeated seasons and knocking off Rutgers, ND, Pitt, and Wake are unrealistic. I think we (myself included) have lost sight of the talent gaps because of PJ.
I hope we keep some of his younger coaches and try to keep the system in place. I know everyone is going to comment by saying HE ISN’T GONE. Believe me, he is gone and I am happy for him, though I will be very sad to see him go.
If PJ leaves, there is a 99% chance that Ken Niumatalolo will be our next coach.
That’s IF PJ leaves. We got through an offseason where both UNC and NC State came open. If that can happen, then anything’s possible.
Why do you say 99% chance that the next coach is Ken Niumatalolo I think Buddy Green has got a shot too . The defense other then this year has been great he has 100 years in the game he is a Quality man he has done well every where he has been and he is the best recruiter on the staff !! THIS IS ALL IF PJ LEAVES WHICH I KNOW HE IS NOT !!
forgive me guys i a just jumping on this but what is this t table problem and weight loss thing i am clueless to what u guys r talking about
When PJ leaves it has to be Niumatalolo. That is the only way to capitalize on the last five years. Finding something that works is hard. Lets not do that again.
Yeah but dont u think if PJ goes a lot of the other coaches will go with him u need a guy who has been around awhile and can put a great staff together .. what’s up with this t table thing trying to understand
In a nutshell, the new Supe made most meals mandatory at the start of the ac year, and the mess hall wasn’t ready to handle the greatly increased load. Lots of hungry mids, as a result, for the first few weeks. It made the Baltimore and Annapolis papers. As the story goes, PJ went to the AD, who got the Foundation to supplement t-tables.
PS I feel certain there’s not another Div 1 school in the country where the coach has to intercede with his AD to get his players fed, thus my concern with PJ souring on his sense of support at the top.
You can say that about a lot of things at the Academy, though. Not that I disagree with your assessment of the current situation.
I think all the coaches except Niumatalolo and Joe Speed would leave with PJ. I also don’t see Green going along. They don’t get along all that well and I think the defense has just been too bad this season. I know it has been because of injuries, inexperience and bad tackling, but still . . .
I have heard the table story from a couple of company officers, but i wil try to stay away from talking about the new Supe and his policies. I prefer football.
Not true about PJ and Green not getting along complete rumor I
Not true about PJ and Green not getting along complete rumor I know both guys very well and that is just not true I agree I dont think Grenn will go with him either if he was to leave !! This is what i hear and trust me this is a good lead .. IF PJ goes which alot of guys r saying he is not .. then it would be between Green and NIU and who ever does’nt get it would then leave too .. BUT AGAIN NO ONE INVOLVED THINKS PJ IS GOING ANY WHERE HE IS NOT GONNA LEAVE A SECURE JOB FOR JUST ANY OTHER GIG TRUST ME HE IS NOT DUMB !! HE CAN STAY AT NAVY GET PAID BETTER THEN MOST COACHES AND HAVE NO PRESURE TO WIN FOR THE NEXT 10 YEARS !! he will only leave for the one job that he has always wanted and only he knows what that job is BUT I CAN TELL U IT IS NOT DUKE , SMU , OR GT u can take that to the bank !!
Everyone has their sources, I guess. God bless the internet.
NO JOKE . GOD BLESS THE INTERNET OTHERWISE U WOULD HAVE NOTHING TO DO.. LOL
Heard from a former GT player who is now a college coach somewhere that PJ interviewed at GT either this morning or yesterday. This was from an extremely good source.
They always are.
jholla-
Ask players (and former coaches) how much PJ and Green like each other. Nothing wrong with it, they have been a great combination and I think they are both fine Americans. I have been a little down on Green this year (see North Texas debacle), but he was ready on Saturday and that says a lot.
I really enjoy all the folks on this site. Thanks.
I will tell you that Paul Johnson was flying home from Dallas yesterday.
-coachspeak
MATT
I talk to players that palyed last year I talk to players on this years team I talk to coaches on the staff and I TALK TO BOTH GREEN AND JOHNSON I am not saying they r best friends but they respect and like each other !! IT IS A COMPLETE RUMOR I wish people would stop looking for reasons !! AS for NORTH TEXAS I said it a hundred times these guys r young and will get better next year the D will be a strength plus from what I here they have a great class of DB’S AND LB’S COMING IN FROM NAPS I HEARD THE BEST CLASS THEY EVER HAD !! U r not gonna find a better DC OR SOMEONE WHO KNOWS MORE ABOUT THE GAME THEN GREEN !! the reason navy as been so good has been a great mix with in the staff and they recruit better players because of the respect these guys get when they come in to your high school looking for kids this is a trickie thing u change one thing and alot around Navy can change for the worse !! I dont think Johnson is leaving I think he will test the water see what he is worth then in the end come back and we will be doing this again at the same time next year !!!
Nobody’s looking for anything, j holla. Matt was just speculating about who would stay or go, just like the rest of us are wondering. Nothing to get spun up about.
I really really wish this week was over.
I AGREE WITH U I CANT WAIT FOR THE BOWL GAME I HOPE THIS ALL GOES AWAY FAST !! I AM ONLY GETTING SPUN UP BECAUSE I LOVE THE TEAM AND AND KNOW THE GUYS IN THIS PROGRAM I WISH THIS WOULD GO AWAY !!
jholla
I agree with pretty much everything you wrote. Unlike some other places I really appreciate the spirit of all the commenters here
.
I love this team and my style is to worry, worry, worry.
That being said I still think he is going. I know he loves it here, but I also think he (we) will never do significantly better than we have lately. Especially not with the scheduling of the Pitt, Rutgers, Wake, etc for the next few years.
I have also heard that there are several great LB’s at NAPS. Hope they make it.
I want the week to be over too!!
Everyone have a good day
matt
I can understand u worry i do too but I think in the end it will work out I would loose alot of respect for PJ if he left for Duke Or SMU . not a better place then where he is now trust me and the comment u made way back about the talent gap I HATE THAT EVERYONE CREDITS PJ AND NO ONE SEE’S THE GREAT PLAYERS HERE !! years past maybe that is true but trust me u have kids here that had other d 1 offers but wanted NAVY because of the winning going on now i know kids that had duke temple and even smu but who wants to get your brains beat in every year so they came here I HATE THAT STIGMA PEOPLE PLACE ON THIS TEAM IT MAKES ME SICK is it USC OR LSU no but it’s not like a bunch of kids out of high school had to choose D 3 OR NAVY come on lets get real there is some great players down here I think PJ IS A GREAT COACH BUT HE DOES HAVE TALENT JUST AS MUCH AS DUKE OR SMU !! I saw some clown on an SMU message page say ” who wants PJ LET HIM STAY AT NAVY why would anyone wanna coach those meager service academy loosers ” this is where PJ wants to go come on COMMENTS LIKE THAT GET ME SICK
Lose respect? For what? It’s his life, and “better” is in the eye of the beholder. I know I’ve made career moves that were in the best interests of myself and my family. I wouldn’t begrudge PJ the same opportunity. I’d break down and cry and enter into 40 days of mourning, maybe, but I wouldn’t be angry with him.
Also, people credit PJ because Navy’s program was a trainwreck before he got here, and now it’s the class of service academy football. There’s a pretty direct cause & effect there.
I would lose respect only because i respect him so much and i think he is better then SMU OR DUKE why not just stay here and when somthing better comes then I UNDERSTAND !! I CAN UNDERSTAND NEBRASKA !! EVEN GT BUT DUKE SMU COME ON !! I AGREE HE IS THE REASON FOR THE CHANGE IN THE PROGRAM BUT U GOTTA AGREE NOW IT IS BECAUSE THE TALENT LEVEL IS BETTER THEN PEOPLE GIVE IT CREDIT FOR U SAW IT SAT REGGIE RUNNING PAST ARMY KIDS LIKE THEY WERE STANDING STILL !!
I’m not one to judge what is better for PJ. He can make that decision on his own. Again, what is better to him probably goes beyond what is just a bigger name.
And yes, the talent level is better now. But that is also a direct result of the coaching staff.
j holla
I do agree that we have great kids with more talent than WE have ever had.
BUT Did you see the Duke game this season? Did you see the two teams comparative sizes?
More importantly, if you held a 10, 20, or 40 yard dash between the 22 starters on offense and defense
Duke would win 19 or 20 of them. Our lone victories would be our slotbacks over their running backs, and Kaipo over their QB (who has a much better arm: 21TD/11 INT in ACC with subpar OL). The slotbacks-RB’s race is also not fair because their running backs are a lot bigger.
This same sort of comparison applies for every team we played except Army, AF, and Northern Illinois (yes even Temple,Ball State and definitely Delaware have better athletes). Ask PJ, he knows this, and says it over and over.
Luckily the games aren’t played (totally) by size and speed. We have intense, hard workiing, talented players who make things happen and win games.
For a coach who wants to be undefeated and win championships there is more potential at Duke, SMU, Georgia Tech and probably 100 of the 119 D-IA (FCS) schools.
Just my two cents, does anyone else remember 2001?
Guy’s first i wanna say i love this debate AND RESPECT ALL YOUR OPINONS but i laugh when i here this !! the only place where other schools r better I would agree is the lines all teams r bigger and stronger!! RB’S AND SLOT BACKS I am a coach and i have not seen a team that we played this year with better fullbacks Ballard and Ketani slot backs which on most other teams would be there slot wr very equal with the teams we played !! on the D the same thing up front is where we suffer our db’s and lb’s r just as good as the teams u talked about I know cause I got Kids I coached in high school in all these places including here at NAVY the diffrence is up front DE DT NG .. OL we dont get those guys big guys who can run but athlete wise we get kids who were over looked not cause of speed !! I got kids at RUTGERS , DUKE TEMPLE AND USC and the kid I sent to Navy was a better football player then all of them he had some D1 OFFERS a ton of D1AA OFFERS but he wanted to go some where special thats why he is here not cause he has no where else to go !! And if he raced the guys he played with who r on the teams i talked about he would win !! Johnson loves talking about the talent someone wrote about this couple of weeks back a fan said this to some reporter he then asked PJ a fan asked how come when we loose it is the talent but when we win it is great coaching His response was tell that guy I DONT GO TO MCDONALDS and tell that guy how to do his job !! I QUOTE NOW COME GUYS IT CANT BE BOTH WAYS ! I am not saying they can play USC OR LSU but they r a better team then the DUKES OR THE TEMPLES OF THE WORLD Yes i do remember 01 but we r getting better kids now because what these guys have done here!! recruiting is very funny put a team in a bowl game and people would wanna be apart of it .. NAVY footbal is bigger then Johnson it will survive trust me I STILL HOPE HE STAYS CAUSE HE IS A GREAT COACH
I think that if PJ left, and he will some day, that his protege, Niumatalolo, will take over as head coach. Almost like a passing of the torch. It seems that Niumatalolo was hand picked by Johnson in the early days to be his pupil. Niumatalolo has been with PJ a while and seems to have gleened a lot of knowledge. Sure, Navy will probably dip that first year, but I’m sure we’ll pick right back up. Besides, Navy has always had great athletes; it all depends on the system and the coach. With the success of the triple option at Navy, I don’t see the system changing anytime soon. It is all the matter of finding the correct coach who knows this and will carry on the system. That person is Niumatalolo…or Tom Osborne (just kidding).
I love the debate and you make some good points . . .but if our DB’s are equal to anyone then why do we use eleven yard cushions and still routinely get beat deep by mediocre teams. I know the light pass rush does not help, but it isn’t just the pass rush.
I think we are going to have to agree to disagree on this one. Maybe we can settle when we play against PJ with him coaching SMU or Duke next year. I know where my money is . . . actually I would never bet on a Navy game. I care to much.
Ha Ha !! Well i never said anyone I said as good as the teams we play !! it is real hard coaching defense at a big time college with the spread O and the athletes u play !! and by the way R U SAYING U R BETTING DUKE OR SMU OVER NAVY !!
I WILL SAY THIS TO PROVE MY POINT TAKE LAST YEARS D WITH THIS YEARS O AND WE MIGHT HAVE ONLY ONE LOSS THAT IS THE TRUTH!! AND WHO KNOWS MAYBE A BIGGER BOWL GAME !! THE ONLY GAME I THINK WE WOULD HAVE LOST ANYWAY WOULD HAVE BEEN AT RUTGERS BUT A MUCH CLOSER SCORE !!