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In what is possibly the most important college football competition of the college football offseason, Paul Johnson and Jon Barry won their fourth Chick-fil-A Peach Bowl Challenge today.
@GTPaulJohnson @GTAthletics Congrats to Coach Johnson & Jon Berry @CFAPeachBowl 2015 Champions pic.twitter.com/gkRU5LInJe
— Magnolia Golf Group (@MagnoliaGolfGrp) April 28, 2015
No, the Chick-fil-A Peach Bowl Challenge is not a college football game -- it's a golf tournament, it just involves college football coaches. Since 2007, a number of schools have sent their head football coach, along with an esteemed alumnus of the university, to compete in a charity golf tournament that awards scholarship money to the winners' school. Representing Georgia Tech has been head football coach Paul Johnson and former basketball player Jon Barry. Other duos included, just to name a few...
| School | Head Coach | Partner |
|---|---|---|
| Alabama | Nick Saban | Mark Ingram |
| Arizona | Rich Rodriguez | Kenny Lofton |
| Auburn | Gus Malzahn | Bo Jackson |
| North Carolina | Larry Fedora | Roy Williams |
| South Carolina | Steve Spurrier | Sterling Sharpe |
You can see all of the teams here: link.
It's a fun three-day event, at least for one group. Paul Johnson and Jon Barry outlasted three other teams today in a four-hole playoff to retain their titles after the groups were all tied at 9-under through 18 holes. NC State's Dave Doeren and Terry Harvey fell short on the first playoff hole, before South Carolina's Spurrier and Sharpe fell short on the second. It took two more playoff holes, but Johnson and Barry finally dispatched of Alabama's Saban and Ingram to retain their titles.
Speaking of which, it was the fourth championship that the duo has won, all since 2011. The only time they haven't won in the last half-decade was in 2013, when Miami's Al Golden and Gino Toretta took home the gold.
Congratulations to Coach Johnson and alumnus Jon Barry!