Quotes from Tech’s loss
SHREVEPORT, La. — Quotes from Georgia Tech’s 14-7 loss to Air Force in the Independence Bowl, courtesy of bowl organizers:
Georgia Tech coach Paul Johnson
“Air Force played a very good game. I said before the game started that the team that won the turnover battle is going to win the game and that is what happened. The way the game was going I knew both teams were not going to have the ball many times and I knew that.”
“We started the second half and we put together a great drive and then we fumbled the ball on the 3-yard line. It was kind of a microcosm of our season. Then we come in and have a defensive series and hold them, fumble again, go out and hold them. Then fumble again. It is hard to overcome all of those mistakes.”
“It is very disappointing. At the start of the third quarter I thought we had the game right where we wanted it. They got a touchdown and go up 14-7, but to their credit we didn’t get it in. We fumbled the ball.”
“We had to go to our back up returner, and he didn’t have it. He misjudged the first one and then he probably lost confidence after that. He has been the back-up returner all year and it is just one of those things. We had our chances, so don’t lay the loss on him.”
Defensive End Jason Peters
“Sometimes things don’t go your way and at this point we should know how to grow and mature as a team and learn how to handle those things better. The situations that don’t turn out in our favor we need to learn how to turn it in our favor and have a better outcome next time.
“That is one thing we expected to do and we expected from the young guys and you see how they work in practice. We push each other and we push ourselves and we know that we expect that from the rest of them.”
Running back Anthony Allen
On fumble before halftime
“We are kinda used to having long drives and taking some time off the clock and driving down and grinding it in. It is kinda heartbreaking and frustrating when you drive all the way into the red zone and have a fumble. The momentum kind of turned around from there when they went and scored.”
On if reality has set in that he has played his final college game
“Oh yeah most definitely. This was my last game. I wanted to go out with a win and get Georgia Tech its first bowl win in a few years but that is the way the season went, it was very frustrating. We had opportunities to make plays and win games and we did not do it.”
Air Force coach Troy Calhoun
On first half:
“We were fair on our execution in the first half, and when we’re fair we don’t move the ball nearly as proficiently. Our guys were excited, had a great week of practice, but we just weren’t quite as crisp as we have to be.”
“I thought the drive that we engineered prior to the half time was huge. It just gave us a real good boost coming in. To be able to move down the field . . . we took some shots and we able to make good throws, and in the end were able to convert the field goal. That was a key drive.”
On the upcoming off season:
“We’ll start from scratch. There’s a good bit of building that will have to occur, but we aren’t starting from the beginning. When you think of all the guys you have to replace . . . I mean we’ve got guys that have started nearly 40 games . . . and so we’ve got a lot of work ahead of us.”
On the passing game:
“Coming in we thought we were going to have to hit some play action passes. Coming into the game it was going to be the turnover margin that would be a key part of it and special teams, and, just, how efficiently you could throw would be a part of it too.”
“We’ve got a guy who’s a heck of a passer and we do a tremendous job with protection. We have some capable guys on the outside who are able to run routes too.”
On 4th down conversion attempts:
“Our guys are good enough to execute. That’s who you trust.”
On the field goal kicker getting “iced” at the end of the first half:
“These guys aren’t going to get too riled up. They love to play. You’re not going to be around guys who are any more passionate, any more disciplined, guys that have any more care or pride in them than these guys. Ask these guys what’s it’s like to go through a basic training at the Air Force Academy. . . There’s some poise these guys have—that’s why they’re going to be great leaders.”
Running back Jared Tew
“That first half our offense struggled a little bit, we only got six points on the board, and we came into the locker room at half time and, just, realized we have to put some plays together, we’ve got to execute better than we did in that first half, and basically, if we took care of our responsibilities and every person did their job we knew we could drive the ball, and that’s pretty much what we did.”
On his last TD:
“My number got called on the three yard line and coach SingIeton [] says you get the ball in the red zone you don’t get stopped. I got lucky enough to get my number called, and in my last name I was lucky enough to get a touchdown. It’s pretty cool to end like that.”
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455 comments Add your comment
CloudmanJacket
December 28th, 2010
10:05 am
@ GTBob
Are you giving Gailey the credit for CPJ first 2 years, since they were Gailey’s players?
Ted M
December 28th, 2010
10:05 am
I don’t think we should fire him…yet. But his recruiting stinks too.
Does CPJ only care about his precious triple option offense?
UGA89
December 28th, 2010
10:06 am
I don’t think there is any doubt that Tech is as bad as UGA right now …and that’s pretty bad.
CloudmanJacket
December 28th, 2010
10:07 am
@ Always a Jacket
If you are proud of losing to 6 unranked teams than you will be satisfied again next year. We saw the future of Tech football last night. I was glad to see Gailey gone, but does that mean his replacement is the right guy? No, I would rather see O’Leary back or just any coach that runs a traditional offense.
crapsandwich
December 28th, 2010
10:08 am
You know I actually feel a little sorry for you nerds. Gailey’s players, your favorite writer Bradley, the genius CPJ, boy were you suckered. Loved the announcing for the game, kept up all night about the 3-opt offense run by the service schools and Tech!!!! Loved it.
You clowns choke off the Georgia Blogs with your insane comments about UGA, but it is YOUR high school offense, lack of any recruiting by GT, and despite this horrible conference you play in your cannot win. Look out DUKE, we bee’s falling fast!!!
Moonpie
December 28th, 2010
10:08 am
The game last night looked like a High School Game from the old day’s.
Air Force-cant quit laughing!
Lee
December 28th, 2010
10:09 am
Everyone seems to be down on Tech and perhaps that’s rightly so BUT Air Force is not a bad team at all. Air Force had Oklahoma on the ropes and lost by 3. The only game Air Force imploded on was the TCU game. While Tech may have issues, I think you give credit where credit is due and say Air Force executed and Tech didn’t.
CloudmanJacket
December 28th, 2010
10:09 am
@ Ted M
That is all he cares about and he won’t change. He thinks he is smarter than all other coaches and they just haven’t figured it out yet. No other successful D1 school runs the triple option 100% of the time. Even Air Force’s coach knows you have to throw it some and mix up the formations. CPJ is stubborn
BigTimeTechDoner
December 28th, 2010
10:12 am
I’ve donated at least $250 to the Tech Athletic program, and I have only missed a few home games in the past year. Further, my partner and I are some of the biggest men’s swimming fans in the city, and I can’t tell you how passionate I am about basketball. However, the state of our athletics is saddening. We have a basketball team that has lost to Kennesaw and Siena, a football team who lost to Air Force and our men’s water polo team lost to Mercer. MERCER! The problem starts at the top, and while I’m not sure who that is, it is definately the place to start, I think. Fire the top, and the rest will fall in to place.
Georgia Grad
December 28th, 2010
10:12 am
I always pull for Tech in bowl games. That was an ugly game. Tech scored 7 points on Air force?! and 34 points against UGA?! Well, it really shows Tech did not come out to play and that Georgia’s defense is terrible (that’s what $750K/year gets you). Dawg fans have nothing to bash about. We’ll be lucky to be UCF in our bowl game.
KindaAfanoftech
December 28th, 2010
10:18 am
Does anyoe like watching the Offence CPJ runs? It’s so boring. When you run the ball every play, there are going to be fumbles. When you never know where the play is going, the player with the ball has to think about more than just holding on to the ball. CPJ also always comes across as an angry know it all in post game interviews, something that i would find hard to rally behind as a player. He also seems to fail to see that Modivating his players is about 30% of his Job. I also bet that practice is mind numbingly boring to work on the same play over and over and over. He needs to work on installing a bunch of passing plays to keep the team interested in practice. If the O does not look different next year, it’s going to be a long year. CPJ also needs to do his job and make modivating his players a top priority.
JCDawg83
December 28th, 2010
10:20 am
Serious question for techies; how long will you give CPJ? I know he started out like a house on fire, but it seems he may have done all he can do. I know he won the ACC last year, and promptly got slaughtered in the bowl game exactly like he did against LSU in the Chick-fil-a bowl in 08′, but it appears the program is seriously moving in the wrong direction. Without Willie Martinez, CPJ would be 0-3 against Georgia, would that change the attitude of tech fans? I am not attacking tech; I am really curious as to how long tech will give CPJ.
Also, does CPJ’s personality annoy tech fans like it does the rest of the world? I admire competitiveness and confidence as much as anyone, but CPJ takes it too far. At what point in life does CPJ force himself to say; “the other team just played better than we did” or “Coach __________ really had them prepared”? I have never seen a D-1 coach who whines and makes excuses after a loss like CPJ.
Dawglasville
December 28th, 2010
10:20 am
I don’t know if you guys have a national championship coach. I’m not sure what we have anymore. Last year when Johnson was the darling and Richt was the idiot I would remind people that Richt won the SEC and the Sugar Bowl in his second year at Georgia. It is hard not to go chips in after a turn around like Johnson had but that is also how you guys got stuck with the Hewitt mess. The guy can obviously coach. I think in the long run it is going to be tough to recruit big time guys on defense.
The media loves to pounce. There will be a storm in Athens next year. That should give enough fodder for 2011. If Johnson doesn’t turn it around next year the papers will provide the soap opera in 2012. No one cares about the facts. Look at ESPN today. Brees is the hero and now they look like they are going to repeat according to ESPN. The Saints defense was the hero last night and I’m not sure who the best team in the NFC is now. The Saints and the Falcons looked pretty evenly matched to me but I guess I was watching another game.
John Heisman
December 28th, 2010
10:21 am
“Gentlemen, it is better to have died a small boy than to fumble this football”
bud
December 28th, 2010
10:23 am
cpj is too arrogant and stubborn to change he is not at gsu or navy any longer he will be fired next yeart
GTBob
December 28th, 2010
10:26 am
@CloudmanJacket,
I don’t give Gailey credit or blame for anything that happened after he left. It’s CPJ’s team now regardless of who recruited them. But to insinuate that Gailey’s players are gone now and all of the players are Johnson recruits isn’t even close to true. There is only one junior on GT’s team that was recruited by Johnson and he isn’t a starter. The rest are red shirt sophomores or lower.
Ted M
December 28th, 2010
10:30 am
yep, CPJ is stubborn!
Ted M
December 28th, 2010
10:34 am
CPJ is like Gollum in LOTR with is triple option offense…”my precious”!
Chan
December 28th, 2010
10:38 am
How do you like me now? At least I won some bowl games.
TechRedNeck
December 28th, 2010
10:39 am
That was one of the most BORING football games I have ever seen. Tech STUNK. No excuses. I don’t see any improvement comming next season. Let the JAWJA people howl with glee. However they are not much better.
Fish Fry
December 28th, 2010
10:40 am
Can someone pass the hushpuppies? This tech talk is getting serious!
doc
December 28th, 2010
10:40 am
odd, how seven and eight win seasons were to be scorned by some and now we have a season with seven losses with the successor now beginning to play with his own players. irony or karma for those that pushed the buttons for change? as a tech fan long standing to the dodd era, even bobby dodd had long droughts with teams even below .500 or 7 and 4 with a bowl thrown in. that seem to have been forgotten by the people that wanted change. not a pretty season at all but well deserved.
Coach
December 28th, 2010
10:40 am
Tech folks, settle down, and you doggies,
JB
December 28th, 2010
10:41 am
We have the same problem….Dawgs have reached a point of beating Vandy and Kentucky is news and exciting. Yours will be Duke and Wake…….Big boys, we’re both suffering.
GT
December 28th, 2010
10:42 am
First losing season in 14 years, CPJ and Hewitt need to go. Why are we always so bad at football!
JB
December 28th, 2010
10:42 am
Hire Leach quick before Maryland gets him……
GT
December 28th, 2010
10:43 am
Maybe Braine was right about expecting too much at Tech.
JB
December 28th, 2010
10:43 am
Did anything you Tech people saw last night get you excited about next year ? Really.
JB
December 28th, 2010
10:44 am
Leach would have hung 50 on AF last night…..
GT
December 28th, 2010
10:45 am
CPJ’s offense isn’t getting it done and I think with his recruiting classes it will get worse. We are definately getting smaller up front on both sides of the ball. This doesn’t bode well for our future.
Coach
December 28th, 2010
10:46 am
GO HOME. And futher more…
Is it writen somewhere in the ESPN guide book to never show the beginning of a play. Frustrating! I guess their producers think we had rather see a close up of the quaterback’s face or the logo on the football than the set, motion, and defensive formation. At least a half dozen plays were cut last night; about typical for ESPN. CBS does such a better job.
JB
December 28th, 2010
10:46 am
True GT.
GT
December 28th, 2010
10:47 am
So, if ESPN would have shown the beginning of the plays, GT would have won? I guess it’s ESPN’s fault.
Uga'91
December 28th, 2010
10:47 am
I wish there was a site where reasonable fans could talk football. I am a Georgia grad so I’m not rooting for Tech but you do represent the State and it was obvious that the 2 teams were at best equally matched talent wise. There should be 3 dominant teams in ACC FSU, UM, and Tech, but Tech’s recruiting is really lacking. In a talent rich state like GA there is no excuse that the other BCS team has to win recruiting battles with the Middle Tennessee’s and Marshall’s of the world. Also, Tech and Air Force ran the same offense but Air Force seemed to have many more wrinkles in their attack. Finally, even I didn’t like how the announcer’s clowned Tech. I say this with the hopes that we don’t lay an egg against UCF. If both programs have top notch programs the state of Georgia can get the hype Texas and Florida get for being dominant in football. Go Dawgs!!!
JB
December 28th, 2010
10:52 am
Tech…………Give it up……..expand your curriculum if you want the “type’ players you need to compete…………”We’re Tech and We’re smart” attitude will continue to produce 6-7…..Georgia…and most public school systems are not producing Tech Material…Yes, a gem or two now and then, but either get used to this or change.
BreakingNews
December 28th, 2010
10:52 am
how’s that karma treating you, Techies?
at least the Dawgs walked out of the Toilet Bowl in Shreveport with a win!
you guys are pathetic!
by the way, where’s 5150POAD??? waiting on him to chime in
CloudmanJacket
December 28th, 2010
10:53 am
I will say this; whoever does hire Mike Leach will be getting a helluva coach. He would shake up the ACC, so he would be a good hire at Maryland. Unfortunatley, CPJ isn’t going anywhere this year, but next year will be his last.
Buzzsaw
December 28th, 2010
10:54 am
4 losses:
Dwyer, D. Morgan, M. Burnett and Thomas…
These were huge. Anthony Allen performed well but the others were not replaced with talent that was even close to their level. Thomas may have been the biggest loss. There were few receivers in the country, let alone at Tech, who were as good.
Hard to look at recruiting and tell anything. FSU gets 4 and 5 star athletes every year and this is the first year since 2005 that they have been in the Championship game. Georgia is loaded with 4/5 star players and they went 6-6.
Is anyone here old enough to remember that Auburn finished #3 in the country utilizing the wishbone in 1983? The were 11-1 and beat 4 top 10 teams in their last 5 games (granted Bo Jackson may have been the best college RB ever). The only issue I see with this offense is lack of creativity. I don’t think our O-line can pass protect well enough to set up pass routes 10-12 yards down the field. Why not counter this with some screens and quick tight end release routes? With linebackers playing up in the box, the field should be wide open 6 – 8 yards past the line of scrimmage. Hit a few of these high percentage passes and the defense would have to loosen up. Being one dimensional is a problem against disciplined, well coached teams. Wrinkles need to be added.
Just a few thoughts…
CloudmanJacket
December 28th, 2010
10:55 am
@ JB
They did expand their curriculam by adding a business management degree just for the athletes.
JB
December 28th, 2010
10:55 am
CloudmanJacket……………Couldn’t you see Leach as HC and Diaz from Miss St as DC……..I would be afraid for my Dawgs…….
JB
December 28th, 2010
10:56 am
Thanks cloudman…….
CloudmanJacket
December 28th, 2010
10:57 am
@ Buzzsaw;
when did Auburn finish # 3 running the wishbone? Exactly. The triple option is completely different and he has no pass plays planned unless they are down in the 4th quarter. Simply a joke.
JB
December 28th, 2010
10:58 am
I’m 57, and I could of punted better than Tech’s guy
Alabama Jack
December 28th, 2010
11:01 am
Hey, they are kids, and they got beat by a better team. So did the Falcons. Get over it or get counseling.
LSJU82
December 28th, 2010
11:02 am
GTBob, Stanford has a football tradition equal to GT. The AD, Bob Bowlsby, didn’t like the state of the program so he went out and found a coach to address it. He seems to have found a guy in Jim Harbaugh to do just that. The AD didn’t buy into the theory that tough academics make it impossible to succeed in football (or basketball, or baseball). Andrew Luck has been a game-changer, but he was recruited by Harbaugh, coached by Harbaugh and his staff, and plays in a system that can take him and any of his teammates to the next level. Harbaugh, like other top coaches, leaves no aspect of the game untouched. He has a special teams coach and actually spends more than ten minutes a practice focusing on special teams. CPJ would be well-served to do the same.
And BTW, Stanford has won the NCAA Director’s Cup 16 years in a row, scoring in 28 sports even though the rules limit scoring to the top ten performances in men’s and women’s sports. GT only fields eight men’s sports and seven women’s sports. What’s up with that?
HANGMAN
December 28th, 2010
11:10 am
Johnson should look for an actual high school coaching job. In the future, bowls should not invite GT period. As previously said, there looked to be maybe 800-1000 people in the stands. I wondered if the local McDonald’s stayed open late to serve them. Remember all the hee-haw last year when UGA played there. AT least, the Bulldogs WON! Tech should schedule high school teams…wooo.
Selective high school teams. Some of Georgia’s HS teams could beat Tech.
Stinger
December 28th, 2010
11:11 am
How can gt expect to compete with the likes of Air Force? The truth is gt’s high academic requirements put them at a tremendous disadvantage.
After all these fine scholar athletes are too buy preparing for their careers with the GA DOT and the Best Buy Geek Squad
Mr. Objectivity
December 28th, 2010
11:12 am
Again, let’s state the obvious: if a team has time to prepare for this triple option, it can stop it (look at the last 3 bowl games with weeks to prepare). If a team has seen this offense over the course of a few years, it can stop it. In short, Paul Johnson is a”Johnny One-note,” the gild is off his rose, he has been exposed. No talented recruit wants to play under this scheme, hence the drop off in highly ranked recruits in the past two years (and this recruiting year ending in February). No major college in FBS will succeed in the long term running this gimmick “O,” and lastly, after seeing it the last few years, I’m just incredibly bored to death by it. Even when we win, it’s just a bore. Fans cannot accept BOREDOM and Johnson’s playbook is a BORE.
GTBob
December 28th, 2010
11:14 am
@CloudmanJacket,
I would like to read more about this Business Management degree that Georgia Tech offers and created for athletes. Can you provide a link to it?
If you are somehow mistaken and you meant the Bachelor of Science in Management degree then you may have to give a better explanation for how it was made just for football players. Its a very highly rated national program and the Management school in general has produced some impressive graduates. There is nothing at GT that was created just for athletes.
BG
December 28th, 2010
11:23 am
Georgia Tech sucks!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!