Georgia Tech coach Paul Johnson is a surly coach. He’s blunt, he knows he’s smart and he’s not shy about reminding you.

He’s also one of the good guys in the business.

Johnson, along with his athletic trainer and AD Dan Radakovich, went to visit Maryland senior left guard Andrew Gonnella on Sunday in Atlanta’s Grady Medical Center to check up on him following Gonnella’s severe knee injury he suffered in the loss to the Yellow Jackets.

“We just wanted to go by and make sure he had what he needed,” Johnson said. “I left him my cell number. His dad was there, I didn’t get to meet his dad. He was outside on a phone call. You feel for guys when they get hurt anytime. He may be the first guy we’ve had since I’ve been here that had to stay over in the hospital. That’s something you would want to do. I think that their guys would do that for our guys if they were left behind. I’m sure they would. More than anything I just wanted him to have my cell number in case he needed anything. We’re right here close by and could help him out.”

That’s what you call going the extra yard.