Shelbyville Times-Gazette: Columns: Gary Johnson

Johnson: Titans' Johnson speeds to NFL rushing lead (11/05/09)
Tennessee Titan second-year running back Chris Johnson continues to prove he's one of the NFL's top young offensive stars. Last year he turned in one of the most impressive seasons by a rookie running back in franchise history after gaining 1,228 yards on 251 carries. For good measure, he's also a threat out of the backfield with 43 receptions totaling 260 yards last year...

Johnson: Titans fans hanging on hope (10/12/09)
NASHVILLE -- I don't think anybody knows what's going on or what the exact problem is with the Tennessee Titans. After finishing the regular season with the best record in the NFL at 13-3 last year, things have really turned bad in Titan Land. About the only thing a die-hard Titan fan has is hope that the team can turn things around fast...

Johnson: Burkey decides to stay 'home' (09/23/09)
From time to time an opportunity might knock at our door. We owe it to ourselves and our families to explore the possibilities. Such was the case for Shelbyville Central Golden Eaglette coach Lynn Burkey. Burkey was recently contacted about the possibility of joining the Tennessee Tech women's basketball program as an assistant coach. After a lot of thought, he's decided to withdraw his name and remain an Eaglette wearing blue and gold instead of purple and gold...

Johnson: Raider excitement builds (09/15/09)
Excitement's in the air at Middle Tennessee! I know it's early and the team is only 1-1 but things are really looking good for the Blue Raider football program. Being an alumnus, I've been to a lot of MTSU games both as a fan and as a member of the media, but what took place Saturday night was better than I ever expected...

Johnson: Thomas likes Central too much to leave (04/15/09)
Thank goodness the grass is not always greener on the other side. Shelbyville Central basketball fans will be happy to hear that coach Kevin Thomas is staying and will not accept the vacant head coaching job at Oakland. Longtime Oakland coach Randy King retired at the end of the season. He had been a coach at the Murfreesboro school for 33 years and the head coach the past 23. His overall record was 552-173 and the Patriots had 20 straight 20-plus win seasons...

Johnson: Stewart setting an example for youngsters (03/17/09)
What a great weekend for junior Mississippi State guard and former Shelbyville Golden Eagle Barry Stewart. Just three years after helping guide Shelbyville to the TSSAA state championship game where they lost in double overtime, Stewart found himself in a similar situation, except on a much larger stage...

Johnson: Accident proves need for face masks (02/26/09)
An unfortunate accident took place Monday at Shelbyville Central's fastpitch softball practice that has caught the attention of softball fans throughout Middle Tennessee. Freshman Lauren Warren was hit in the face by a line drive off the bat of her older sister, senior Kayla Warren, during an inter-squad scrimmage...

Johnson: The best team didn't win (01/12/09)
NASHVILLE -- There's no doubt in my mind who the best team was at LP Field Saturday. Unfortunately for Titans fans, that doesn't count for much. Tennessee's defense played like one of the top rated defenses they were while the Titans offense was very productive and almost doubled the Ravens in net yards gained...

Johnson: Playoff atmosphere to invade LP Field (01/05/09)
What an exciting week this will be for Tennessee Titan fans. Playoffs in the NFL have a completely different atmosphere. I noticed the difference in the four wild card games played on television this past weekend. You can multiply that a couple of times at LP Field Saturday...

Johnson: Titans flex their muscles (12/22/08)
NASHVILLE -- Mission accomplished….just for now. With Tennessee's 34-14 win over the Pittsburgh Steelers Sunday afternoon, the Titans earned the No. 1 seed and home field advantage in the upcoming AFC Playoffs. They also have an opening round bye into the playoffs by winning the AFC South...

Johnson: Thomas cooking up milestone mark (12/09/08)
Shelbyville Central coach Kevin Thomas has guided the Golden Eagle basketball program to being one of the most successful in the mid-state over the past 10 years and the next win will be his 200th as a head coach. Thomas, one of the most talented young coaches in the state, came to Shelbyville 12 years ago as an assistant coach in both football and boys basketball then helped former Eaglette coach Rick Insell as an assistant his second year before taking over as head coach of the Eagles...

Johnson: Titans ready to move on (11/24/08)
NASHVILLE -- You knew it had to happen sooner or later. Titan fans hoped it would be later rather than sooner, but what a run it's been. After 10 wins in a row and the last undefeated team in the NFL, Tennessee finally lost their first game Sunday at LP Field against the New York Jets...

Johnson: Embry truly earned TSSAA award (11/16/08)
Kudos go out to a close friend of mine for a job well done. Shelbyville Central principal Don Embry was recently named Principal of the Year in Athletic District 4 of the TSSAA, part of the A.F. Bridges Awards program that recognizes the School System Administrator of the Year, Principal of the Year, Athletic Director of the Year, Female Coach of the Year, Male Coach of the Year, Official of the Year, and Contributor of the Year for each district across the state...

Johnson: Raiders help their own cause (11/10/08)
MURFREESBORO -- When you're trying to build a football program and increase fan attendance, it's important to win home games and especially homecoming. With that said, it was a good weekend for Middle Tennessee. The Blue Raiders welcomed back a number of former players along with a lot of alumni and they didn't let any of them down by claiming a huge 24-21 win over Louisiana-Monroe in a Sun Belt Conference clash at Floyd Stadium on Saturday afternoon...

Johnson: Titans streaking toward home playoff game (11/03/08)
NASHVILLE -- Halfway through a 16-game regular season, the Tennessee Titans remain undefeated. It hasn't come easy, but it's not supposed to…..this is the NFL. After a very impressive win over the Indianapolis Colts on Monday Night Football, the Titans claimed their eighth straight victory with a 19-16 overtime win over the Green Bay Packers on Sunday, playing their second game in six days...

Johnson: Balance of power shifting atop AFC South (10/28/08)
NASHVILLE -- The Tennessee Titans continue to roll. Who would have ever believed it? Seven games into the season, the Titans are 7-0 and sit atop the NFL as the only undefeated team. You won't find anyone in the Titans organization saying they are the best team in the NFL just yet. But rest assured the team is extremely delighted with their four-game lead over the Indianapolis Colts and Jacksonville Jaguars in the AFC South...

Johnson: 'Dores enjoying taste of the big time (10/06/08)
Call it "Lucky 13." That's the talk around West End after Vanderbilt moved up six spots in this week's Associated Press Top 25 poll. The 13th-ranked Commodores (5-0, 3-0 SEC) extended their win streak to five after a thrilling 14-13 win over Auburn Saturday night...

Johnson: Titans see 4-0 mark as just a beginning (09/29/08)
For the first time in their 49-year franchise history, the Tennessee Titans have started the season with four straight wins. That milestone was achieved when the Titans rolled past visiting Minnesota 30-17 on Sunday afternoon. Tennessee is one of only two 4-0 NFL teams. The defending Super Bowl champion New York Giants are 3-0 after a bye this week...

Johnson: Confident Collins guiding Titans (09/22/08)
NASHVILLE -- There's no doubt who is the new leader of the Tennessee Titan offense. It's out with the "Young" and in with the "old." With third-year quarterback Vince Young out rehabilitating an injured knee, among other things, 14-year veteran Kerry Collins is now in control under center...

Johnson: Blue Raiders dominate Terps (09/08/08)
MURFREESBORO -- That best describes Middle Tennesee's historic win over Maryland on Saturday night. The Blue Raiders won every phase of the football game. What a difference a couple of weeks make. After Middle Tennessee's loss to SunBelt rival Troy in their season and home opening game, I wrote a column about what all the university had done to help create fan support and attendance for home games...

Johnson: Titan defense comes through (09/08/08)
NASHVILLE -- The Titan 'D' is dependable! It's been said that defense wins championships and, if that's the case, the Titans are primed and ready. Now I'm not going to go out on a limb and proclaim that Tennessee is going to contend for a championship after the first game of the regular season, but you have to admit that the Titan defense was very impressive in the 17-10 win over Jacksonville Sunday afternoon...

Johnson: More wins needed for Blue Raider fan base (08/29/08)
Being an alum, I'm a huge Middle Tennessee fan and really enjoy covering the Blue Raiders from the press box and sidelines. But I've often wondered why the support and attendance at home games isn't better. The university has really undergone a lot of changes since I graduated in the late 1980s...

Johnson: Heralded Titan rookie makes big splash (08/11/08)
Are the Tennessee Titans for real? That's the big question after an impressive 34-13 win over the St. Louis Rams in their preseason opener Saturday night at L.P. Field. The Titans really excelled in all phases of the game and at first glance, their rookie class looks to be successful...

Johnson: Eagles wear pink to fight breast cancer (04/24/08)
There is a very unique opportunity for you to help make a difference in a very small way while supporting a group of talented young student-athletes as well. Shelbyville Central coach Neal Gordon and the Eagle soccer team will donate the entire admission proceeds from the District 8-AAA soccer match with Tullahoma at 7 p.m. Friday to the American Cancer Society to help fight breast cancer...

Johnson: Roundball season hits midway point (01/11/08)
How time flies by. Even though it doesn't seem possible, high school basketball is around the midseason point. With that said, it's now crunch time for all our teams throughout the county as they're currently in the middle of their district schedules. How they play between now and the end of the season will have a lot to do with the success they may have in the postseason...

Jones: Athletic programs continue to impress (01/11/08)
Is it just me or has another year passed us by with warp speed? It seems like yesterday that I was writing about my first year as a sports writer and now I am well on my way to being a three-year veteran. There have been many trials and tribulations along the way but this job is far and away the most rewarding that I have ever had for many reasons that I am eternally grateful for...

Johnson: Stewart proves hard work pays off (01/03/08)
The honors keep rolling in for a former Shelbyville Central basketball standout. Former Golden Eagle and current Mississippi State sophomore guard Barry Stewart has been named the SEC Men's Basketball Player of the Week. The announcement was made Monday by the league office...

Johnson: Eaglettes representing with class (12/19/07)
PHOENIX, Ariz. -- After a full day of traveling, Shelbyville Central's Eaglettes are primed and ready for their first round game of the prestigious Nike Tournament of Champions this afternoon. The Eaglettes face Auburn (Wash.) Riverside at 2:40 CST in opening round action...

Johnson: Haynesworth worth the price (11/12/07)
Pay him the money! Tennessee Titan defensive tackle Albert Haynesworth is in the last season of his contract and is eligible for the free agent market at season's end. In his sixth season with the Titans, the former University of Tennessee Volunteer is in the midst of a Pro Bowl year and anchors one of the best defensive lines in the NFL...

Johnson: Hardy's patience paying off (11/06/07)
I've often told second-year Shelbyville Central coach Jason Hardy that getting the Golden Eagle football program back to the glory days of the past is going to be a marathon, not a sprint. It's fair to say that Hardy and the Eagles have at least completed the first leg of the race...

Johnson: Typical Titans turning heads (10/29/07)
It's something Tennessee Titans fans have grown accustomed to. A low-scoring game dominated by the defense, backed by a sufficient run-oriented offense and a consistent field goal kicker. Like it or not, that's Tennessee Titan football. The biggest difference thus far this year is they're winning...

Johnson: New spirit apparent at MTSU (10/08/07)
Despite posting an overall record of 1-5, good things are happening to the Middle Tennessee football program under second-year head coach Rick Stockstill. I've been covering the Blue Raiders for years and attended games while a student. Saturday night, I witnessed a few things that I've never seen before at Floyd Stadium...

Johnson: So long 'Two-A-Days' (09/25/07)
For the past two years many viewers caught on to a reality television show on MTV called "Two A-Days." "Two-A-Days" was about the successful football program at Hoover High in Alabama. It focused on the personal lives of football players and cheerleaders as much as football...

Johnson: Disappointing 'Dores outgunned (09/10/07)
NASHVILLE -- Vanderbilt entered Saturday's game with Alabama looking for their first home win against the Crimson Tide in more than two decades. Both claimed impressive opening home wins, the Commodores rolling past Richmond 41-17 while Alabama outscored Western Carolina 52-6...

Johnson: Mom, Greeneville proud of Burkey (01/04/07)
When the Eaglettes competed in the Greene County Bank Ladies' Classic last week, it was sort of a homecoming for coach Lynn Burkey. Burkey was born and raised in Greeneville. His mother, Josephine, still resides there. I had the pleasure of meeting Mrs. Burkey while in Greeneville and, along with others from Shelbyville who made the long trip, noticed the strong resemblance between coach Burkey and his mother...

Johnson: MTSU takes another step forward (12/04/06)
What a difference a year makes. That, along with a new head coach and coaching staff. After a very disappointing 2005 season in which Middle Tennessee finished 4-7, athletic director Chris Massaro decided to make a change at the top of the Blue Raider football program...

Johnson: 'Two-A-Days' worth viewing (10/17/06)
Most of the time, when you speak of two-a-days in football terms -- those hot days in the summer when football teams hold two practices a day in preparation of the upcoming season -- you get a negative response. Over the past couple of months, a great number of you have shared with me how much you enjoyed watching the MTV hit reality show "Two-A-Days."...

Johnson: Tailgate supper boosts Eagles' support (09/05/06)
Two games into the season, it might not be the start new Shelbyville Central football coach Jason Hardy and his staff had hoped for, but there's one thing for certain. They're here for the long haul. If the old saying "Hard work always pays off," is true, good things are ahead for the Golden Eagles...

Johnson: Pros get rich at our expense (08/03/06)
From time to time, I've been accused by my wife and daughters of staying up too late on the Internet. It's true, there are a few Internet sports sites that I frequent on a regular basis. I recently ventured onto one of those sites and noticed an article that listed the 50 top-earning athletes in the United States this past year...

Johnson: Hardy looking for 'a few good men' (04/18/06)
There seems to be a lot of excitement regarding the hiring of new Shelbyville Central head football coach Jason Hardy. Hardy, a former assistant at Shelbyville, is now on board and looks forward to selling his house in Gallatin and moving his family here permanently...

Johnson: Central looking for one good man (03/22/06)
In the midst of a pair of TSSAA state championship runs in basketball, there's been a little more talk concerning Shelbyville Central High athletics. With former Eagle football head coach Whit Taylor recently moving into administration as the assistant principal at Harris Middle, Central principal Don Embry and assistant principal/athletic director Jimmy Williams have been working overtime in search of a new head football coach...

Johnson: Eagles' biggest loss may be support (10/25/05)
It's been brought to my attention that I mentioned that Shelbyville Central sophomore quarterback Julian Haile needed 78 yards to reach 1,000 yards passing on the season in my game preview in Friday's Times-Gazette, but I wrote that he needed 88 in the game story Sunday...

Johnson: Central welcomes five new coaches (08/16/05)
School's back in session and the fall sports schedule for the most part is right around the corner. With that said, perhaps two of the busiest people over the summer were Shelbyville Central principal Don Embry and athletic director Jimmy Williams. During the summer they've hired five new coaches. Embry told me he had to fill 14 total faculty positions...

Johnson: Burkey arrives in Shelbyville (06/03/05)
Coach Lynn Burkey now has a day under his belt at the helm of the Shelbyville Golden Eaglette basketball program. That first day proved very eventful. I had an opportunity to talk with Burkey late Thursday night and we discussed his first day on the job...

Johnson: A tough act to follow (05/19/05)
With the departure of former Shelbyville Golden Eaglette coach Rick Insell, now women's coach at Middle Tennessee State University, the question arises of who will become the new coach of the Eaglettes. Talk about a tough act to follow. Insell has been rewarded for all the hard work, dedication and success that he has achieved. One can only believe that the next Eaglette coach will possess the same qualities...

Johnson: Doors opened for Insell? (04/24/05)
There's an old saying, "All good things must come to an end." One can only believe that this just might be the case for legendary Shelbyville Golden Eaglette coach Rick Insell. With the departure of former Middle Tennessee State Lady Blue Raider coach Stephany Smith, who recently accepted the head coaching job at Alabama, the doors might open for Insell to take a look at his and my alma mater...

Johnson: Ayers combined coaching, caring (03/09/05)
As the 2004-2005 basketball season came to an end for area basketball teams recently, so did the coaching career of one of the nicest persons to ever grace the sidelines. Cascade Middle girls basketball coach Brenda Ayers has decided to retire from coaching after 21 years. She will remain as a teacher...

Point by Point
Gary Johnson