If he gets the chance, Johnson will bring the hammer down on the Dawgs
Nobody asked me but:
1. If Paul Johnson gets the chance, he’ll bring the hammer down on Georgia. State rivalries like Georgia and Georgia Tech are always big recruiting games. Saturday night’s game at Bobby Dodd Stadium will be no different. But in his second year at Georgia Tech, Johnson has infused the football program with confidence at a time where Georgia’s confidence is at a pretty low ebb. There is all kind of positive energy at Georgia Tech. I haven’t seen this much negative energy at Georgia since Jim Donnan’s last year (2000) as head coach. College Football 101 says that when you have your rival in a weakened position, you put your foot on the gas. If Johnson can lay a pretty good number on Georgia, he will. Georgia has enough athletic ability to make this game competitive. But I wonder if they have the heart to fight back. I really do.
2. I think Bobby Bowden will be back at Florida State next season. There is no doubt in my mind that if Florida State had lost to Maryland last week (and the Seminoles scored with 32 seconds left to win 29-26) it would have been very difficult for Bowden to make the case to return for his 35th season as the Seminoles head coach. If he loses at No. 1 Florida on Saturday, and we assume he will, Florida State will be 6-6 and heading to a bowl game. I think there will be considerable pressure for Bowden to step down but he has made it clear to those who know him well that he wants to come back and pursue a final ACC championship. Florida State has promised Bowden that it will be his decision. But this much is also clear. If Bowden comes back, the 2010 season will be his last at Florida State. Everybody understands that.
3. I think Bob Stoops will at least listen to Notre Dame. On the surface, it appears silly to think that Stoops would entertain the thought of another college job. He has one of the best franchises in the sport as the head coach at Oklahoma But the profession has changed. After a coach has been in one place for 11 years (he is 114-29 with seven New Year’s Day or BCS bowls) his support starts to sag unless he’s winning the conference championship every year. It’s been a tough year at Oklahoma, which lost QB Sam Bradford and TE Jermaine Gresham early in the season and has not been the same ever since. Fans become unrealistic and don’t believe the program should ever have a down year. Stoops is a native of Ohio and so he knows the territory. Notre Dame needs a strong personality and a proven winner on the college level. Maybe Stoops, 49, has one more move left in him.
4. Look for Colt McCoy to put up some pretty big numbers against Texas A&M. The Texas quarterback has put himself in position to win the Heisman Trophy with some good games against some pretty weak teams (Baylor, Kansas). The Longhorns get another struggling team when they go to Texas A&M (6-5) on Thanksgiving night. Next week Texas plays Nebraska in the Big 12 championship game. Nebraska coach Bo Pelini has a very good defensive scheme against spread attacks so McCoy probably won’t put up huge numbers against the Cornhuskers. McCoy and Texas will be the only college football game on Thursday night and a lot of Heisman Trophy voters will be watching. Texas will turn McCoy loose and give him a chance to make his move.
5. Rich Brooks should get some votes for SEC Coach of the Year. With a win over Tennessee on Saturday in Lexington, Kentucky will finish 8-4 and in second place in the SEC East. That should be good enough to get the Wildcats into the Outback Bowl on New Year’s Day. When Kentucky quarterback Mike Hartline went down with an injury on Oct. 10, Kentucky was 2-3 and it appeared the Wildcats would stumble towards the finish line. But Brooks elected to take the redshirt off quarterback Morgan Newton and, after a few games, the offense actually got better. Now Kentucky has won five of its last six. Kentucky began playing football in 1888. In all that time no coach—not even Bear Bryant—has taken the Wildcats to four straight bowl games. This will be Kentucky’s fourth consecutive bowl (they have won the previous three) under Brooks.
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368 comments Add your comment
How2fish
November 25th, 2009
3:48 pm
revwreck I have DVD’s I could make copies for you of the 2002-2006 Tech/UGA games if you’d like ?
GT is tuned up
November 25th, 2009
3:48 pm
Josh Nesbitt likes to hammer a defense with all his offensive weapons and smart clock management.
no brainer
November 25th, 2009
3:50 pm
Bench Joe Cox and bring back Richard Samuel to run the ball,
you stupid UGA coaches.
Gen Neyland
November 25th, 2009
3:51 pm
Thomas Anthony the Taxman : I thought I’d read stupid posts before today, but yours has got the be the absolute stupidest yet…Congrats.
Tide4u2c
November 25th, 2009
3:52 pm
The Bandit,
Georgia Tech has played some real good football and only lost once and on paper Georgia Tech should win however I look at Georgia Tech’s schedule and UGA’s and realize UGA plays against better competition because they are in the SEC.I know you’ll probably disagree but the competition is just better in the SEC. Plus ACC usually lose to SEC teams.
Gen Neyland
November 25th, 2009
3:53 pm
Delbert D : But how about that Ruskie defense..?
revwreck
November 25th, 2009
3:56 pm
what about 08
Darren
November 25th, 2009
4:00 pm
This game will not be a ‘blowout’ either way and anyone who thinks it will doesn’t understand rivalry football. Besides, UGA has not blown any team out this year and GT has blown out 2 – Duke and possibly Va. It should be a great game though!!!
The Bandit
November 25th, 2009
4:02 pm
Tide I agree that the SEC is usually the stronger conference and if you throw Alabama on UGA’s schedule it is tougher. But they didn’t play Alabama this year. That said. They played three top 25 teams. Florida, LSU , and Okie State. The Florida and Okie State games weren’t even close. The LSU game was BS and UGA probably should have one but they didn’t. So they are 0-3 against the top 25. Tech has played 4 top 25 teams along with two SEC teams. Tech is 3-1 against the top 25 and granted MSU and Vandy are doormats but they are in the “SEC” . What most people have a problem with is getting over the names. Is Auburn a big collge football name? Yes. Are they good this year? NO. Same thing can be said with Arkansas and SC. The only thing that might help UGA have a tougher schedule than Tech is because UGA is about to play the #7 team in the country and Tech is about to play a 6-5 team. And come on do you really think that UGA would beat the U? Much less “stomp them”.
GTSteve
November 25th, 2009
4:02 pm
Hey…I want a copy of the 2006 game…I will pay for it
not a homer
November 25th, 2009
4:08 pm
Paul Finebaum is a UT Grad no way he is a Bama Homer…we don’t like him
Roll Tide
tech fan
November 25th, 2009
4:09 pm
you are stupid if you think Georgia does not have the heart to fight in this game! They are gonna be fighting their balls off!
JoD
November 25th, 2009
4:11 pm
I agree Bandit, UGA is really hurting our SOS. They are benefiting from us, but we still have a better SOS according to saragins.
GTSteve
November 25th, 2009
4:16 pm
I agree techfan, and they have the talent…they just made a lot of bonehead mistakes this year
Slappy
November 25th, 2009
4:18 pm
Keep in mind Georgia has nothing to lose here ( other than a DC ) and Tech pretty much does. If it’s close in the 4th quarter look out. Still the odds are in Tech’s favor. Just say’n….
revwreck
November 25th, 2009
4:18 pm
tech fan
I agree 100%….as much as I think they know we have a better team this year, all of us longtime tech fans know they are still a tough team and we have to better than weve been on D all year and not make any mistakes
Nordberg
November 25th, 2009
4:22 pm
how2fish – boy, you really got me on that syntax. How about kissing AN Azz! Just kidding. Happy Thanksgiving.
The Bandit
November 25th, 2009
4:22 pm
JoD your rite but im pretty sure sagarin does that on a week to week basis. So we will see next week. But please don’t think I’m taking up for UGA because even if they do overtake us next week GT will def. jump back ahead after playing Clemson again. Did anybody go to the Miami game last year? I just really think this game will have the same feel. This years UGA reminds me a lot of the Miami last year with Marve at QB. I think they even have similiar start times. Miami just happened to be on a Thursday.
GTSteve
November 25th, 2009
4:25 pm
how2fish….i want a copy of the 2006 game
..I.,
November 25th, 2009
4:26 pm
the spread is 7.5 with the o/u at 60. you get 3 automatically for home field. vegas is seeing something…Dogs on top 38 – GT – 24
17 of 20
November 25th, 2009
4:27 pm
Alabama and Georgia have had a lot of practice losing to Florida these past 20 years, Alabama when everything was on the line.
Delbert D.
November 25th, 2009
4:28 pm
Gen Neyland – “But how about that Ruskie defense..?” They played the “bend but not break,” trapped them in the alleys and streets, and had a whole lot of depth
. It didn’t hurt that Hitler had to approve every move for the Germans, did it?
revwreck
November 25th, 2009
4:32 pm
just curious….not a gambling man but what did vegas see last week for uga..I think college fb is the worst bet you can make..i have teenage boys and would never bet on them being cocsistent..lol
revwreck
November 25th, 2009
4:34 pm
consistent
Technophobia
November 25th, 2009
4:37 pm
Georgia definitely has the heart to play well in this game, they always do. What they don’t have this year is the confidence. It was starting to build after the Auburn but was dashed by the Kentucky game. Fans, coaches, players, nobody there has confidence and I can’t blame them.
The Bandit
November 25th, 2009
4:38 pm
…I… Vegas can see all they want there is no way that the UGA defense holds GT to fewer points than both VT and Clemson did. If you want to I would love to place on points scored by GT if the over/under is 24
The Bandit
November 25th, 2009
4:39 pm
*should be place a bet on points scored
GTSteve
November 25th, 2009
4:40 pm
Please Tech win so I don’t have to listen to the crap for the next 12 months
PerfessorJay
November 25th, 2009
4:44 pm
how2fish – actually, Norderg is correct. Chinese always drop the article in their sentence structure, ie. “you like hot dog”?
Technophobia
November 25th, 2009
4:46 pm
GT Stece, nice thought but you know you’ll hear crap for 12 months either way. If we win we’ll be hearing the can’t sell out, recruiting, yada yada yada crap. Barking dogs don’t stop barking no matter what.
The Dude (Andrew Sherwin)
November 25th, 2009
4:52 pm
It looks like most people who post here should polish both their reading comprehension and research skills.
The Dude (Andrew Sherwin)
November 25th, 2009
4:53 pm
Techno… there are collars that solve that problem now, aren’t there?
Paul in RDU
November 25th, 2009
4:55 pm
..I.,
November 25th, 2009
4:26 pm
the spread is 7.5 with the o/u at 60. you get 3 automatically for home field. vegas is seeing something…Dogs on top 38 – GT – 24
Once again we have someone posting who has no idea how Vegas sets the betting line.
The line is set to ensure equal amounts of money on both sides of the line. That way the bookie is guaranteed to make money on the vigorish.
If more people bet on one side than the other, the line moves.
You obviously have the Vegas line confused with power ratings. In those you take the difference between the ratings of the 2 teams and then give 3 points to the home team. If you do this with Sagarin you get Tech winning by 14 – Tech (87.03), UGA (75.96).
GTSteve
November 25th, 2009
5:00 pm
Yeah , you are correct, they have quieted with the sell out theme…since they sold out and lost to Ky…..doesnt do much good to sell out if you lose
The Dude (Andrew Sherwin)
November 25th, 2009
5:06 pm
GTSteve… even worse if said sell-out high-tails it while your team still has a chance to tie or win.
sccatfan1
November 25th, 2009
5:10 pm
In terms of the “line” discussion…trust me, Vegas doesn’t throw out a BS line just because they think the UGA fans will “overbet” their teams. Too many wise guys will crush them if they do that, and the subsequent adjustment won’t bail them out. You rarely see a line move more than a couple of points from the open unless something extraordinary happens (key injury, etc).
I was hoping to get double digits on the Dogs, but I’ll still take them plus 7.
SuperB
November 25th, 2009
5:10 pm
It wouldnt’ surprise me if Georgia won. They still have more talent that GT, but really need A. J. to get this done.
Head, Pants, Now!
November 25th, 2009
5:12 pm
Tech Fans – sorry, but even if you win tomorrow (which you should), those pesky and class-ridden Georgia fans are still going to be just as annoying as they are today. They are like flies on sheet. I can empathize as an Auburn fan. Beating your rival 6 years in a row (and 11-5 since ‘93) does nothing to disrupt the annoyance that lives and breathes in their souls 365 days a year.
Head, Pants, Now!
November 25th, 2009
5:13 pm
when is the last time a WR won a college football game themselves ?
MadisonDawg
November 25th, 2009
5:24 pm
Old Dawg
November 25th, 2009
9:21 am
I really liked that when I read it in the Morgan County Citzen this morning…….. why post it on the AJC???
Paul in RDU
November 25th, 2009
5:29 pm
sccatfan1 – Your point on the line is a good one.
My point is that Vegas sets the line based on how they think people will bet, not on any “expectation” on who will win.
Having said that, if UGA fans are all piling in the bookies in GA need to be laying bets off around the country.
Personally, I think you’ve got to be crazy to bet on a rivalry game, especially one in which your team is playing. Anything can happen.
Unlike many of the Tech posters I expect it to be a close game – UGA won’t quit, even if some of their fans do
D-Jacket
November 25th, 2009
5:30 pm
223 – 0
Reality Check
November 25th, 2009
5:34 pm
It will all come down to turnovers and penalties. Which prbably means Tech wins by 2 touchdowns.
Darren
November 25th, 2009
5:39 pm
Reality, you might be correct given past games this year. UGA has shot themselves in the foot in many games in that regard and then stopped to reload!! TOs & penalties will cost the undisciplined Dawgs in the end.
Darren
November 25th, 2009
5:40 pm
At least Soft Willy Boy will be going, going……….GONE!!!
FullMetalJacket
November 25th, 2009
5:55 pm
It seems that CPJ and the Yellow Jackets haven’t given the dogs any inflammatory quotes to put up on the locker room wall, so Barnhart trying to help out with an article about running up the score. Tech is going to Tampa to play Clemson in the ACC Championship Game, win, lose, or draw to UGA. This game is obviously more important to UGA in their bid to avoid a possible losing season and an inferior bowl game. That being said, Tech should win if they don’t hurt themselves with penalties and turnovers. UGA has a lot of talent, and the team (if not some of the fans) has plenty of heart and motivation to pull off the upset. Tony, it was a nice try to stir something up by challenging your dogs to have some heart…but I don’t think they need it, and I do wish you would stick to analysis.
FullMetalJacket
November 25th, 2009
6:05 pm
It’s funny that PETA wants UGA to use a robotic dog instead of a (sometimes) live bulldog for a mascot. Of course, it might make sense to have a competition to select the mascot instead of just letting ol’ Sonny & family pick (and profit from) one, and you could even give a scholarship to the coed who wins the competition.
ReckHornGoesTHWUGA!!!
November 25th, 2009
6:09 pm
As the GTG’s say “if you ain’t from the “A” then you won’t understand, we bring it like 2-2-2 on Cumberland!”
Ga Tech. Small Toolbox. No SEC hammer.
November 25th, 2009
6:09 pm
Why couldn’t Johnson HAMMER a SINGLE TD on LSU when he had weeks to prepare in the Bowl Game? Who got HAMMERED there?
He got beat 38 to 3 last time he met an SEC defense.
Richt, not so much against LSU, LSU needed a last second MIRACLE and a bad call to beat Richt.
Richt and Johnson–played same team–Johnson couldn’t score a TD with weeks to prepare. Sad.
So far? Not so good. Johnson didn’t bring the hammer against Georgia or LSU last time he played him. One–3 point squekr, Two- 35 Point hammering FROM LSU. Which makes you wonder, with his 0% hamMering SEC track record,
Does Johnson even have a hammer on his small toolbox that can pound an SEC DEFENSE?
The facts say clearly “No”. He only has 2 plays. Triple Option left, Triple Option right. Is that a “toolbox’?
How many “TRIPLE OPTION” offenses have been Natl’ Champs in the last decade? Why not?
Small toolbox. No SEC hammer.
Stoops may listen to Notre dame? - CycloneFanatic
November 25th, 2009
6:15 pm
[...] scooped the Stoops rumor up off the floor and tosses it back on the table in a note titled "I think Bob Stoops will at least listen to Notre Dame." Barnhart insinuates that 11 years in Norman may be enough for Stoops, and that the [...]