Tech goes for fourth game-opening TD
Greetings-
Sorry I haven’t had anything up . Friday’s kind of supposed to be my day off (not complaining) and I’ve got some projects I am trying to get to. (Anyone want to rent a two-bedroom apartment in Buckhead?)
Anyway, I hope you’ll accept this story about Georgia Tech’s streak of touchdowns on the first play of scrimmage as my blog for the day. It’s going in Saturday’s paper and will be up online before too long. Hopefully you also read a story posted Thursday about the Ramblin’ Wreck. (The newspaper’s style, I’ve learned, favors Wreck over Reck. My apologies to the Reck purists. I think history favors your spelling.) Another story should be coming up this afternoon about Paul Johnson’s practice of inserting three or four extra plays into the game plan designed to be momentum changers.
To put Georgia Tech’s first-play success into context, consider that Virginia Tech is the only other team in the ACC, SEC and Big 10 that has reached the end zone on its first play from scrimmage in any game this season, a combined 1-for-104.
The Yellow Jackets, meanwhile, are 3-for-3. Tech will try to make it 4-for-4 against North Carolina Saturday. Tar Heels coach Everett Withers said he won’t be thinking about the streak. Defensive coordinator Art Kaufman said he wouldn’t approach it any differently than any other play. But Withers said he thought his players would be more heightened to avoid becoming the fourth consecutive victim.
“I don’t think you have to mention it” for them to be aware, Withers said.
The first score was a relative gimme, a 5-yard toss to A-back Orwin Smith after Tech had forced a turnover deep in Western Carolina territory. The second was designed with the intent to score, a 73-yard touchdown pass to A-back Tony Zenon against Middle Tennessee State. The third, a 95-yard run by Smith against Kansas that became the longest run from scrimmage in Tech history, was a good play call bolstered by superior execution.
“You always have an expectation (a play will break open),”coach Paul Johnson said. “Was I counting on it? No.”
Georgia Southern coach Jeff Monken, who was an assistant to Johnson for 13 years, thinks Johnson’s option-based spread offense might be more conducive to opening strikes. First, the offense has big-play capability and second, teams often aren’t prepared for the speed with which Tech runs it because it is difficult to simulate in practice.
It doesn’t hurt that Tech has home-run hitters like Smith, Zenon and wide receiver Stephen Hill.
“We’ve been fortunate in that we’ve hit some big plays,” Johnson said. “I think we all know that [streak] is probably coming to an end.”
Whatever the reason, it’s a curious and mind-boggling streak. Several FBS schools queried haven’t scored on the first play of a game in several years.
Asked Wednesday, Johnson said he already knew what play he was going to call first.
“You’ll be unimpressed,” he told reporters.
The more important opinion will be rendered by North Carolina’s defense.
What do you think? Does Tech go 4-for-4?
Thanks for reading. Please follow on Facebook and Twitter.
By Ken Sugiura, Georgia Tech beat
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304 comments Add your comment
Supersize that order, mutt
September 24th, 2011
12:08 am
and, by the way, if you’re going to quote statistics, it was 700+ total yards of offense. The most yards run up by ANY college team so far this year against ANY competition, and most of the colleges in the BCS division have played what you refer to as HS teams. How many total yards did the retard heels run up against powerhouse James Madison?
Taaaarr Heeeeelll
September 24th, 2011
12:10 am
You guys sure are a sensitive bunch – doubt creeping in?
ss – it’s not yardage it’s the score what a DA.
Supersize that order, mutt
September 24th, 2011
12:10 am
Funny that nobody other than Iowa has stopped it yet. I guess our hs offense is better than most college defenses; it’s sure been better than the heels’ defense the past 2 years
Supersize that order, mutt
September 24th, 2011
12:11 am
YOU brought up the yardage. Like I said, the heels haven’t been able to stop the yards or the points the last 2 years.
5150 UOAD
September 24th, 2011
12:11 am
Racists? Uncle Remus was a black man telling stories to a white male youth. The Tar baby was a Trap set to fool the FOX. I asked if you were the Trap. Man you are a lil sensitive.
Ol'JacketFan
September 24th, 2011
12:12 am
Yeah right, tell me fool, how many option offenses have won National Championships? Something thagt UNC has never ever come close to in the “storied” football program.
Taaaarr Heeeeelll
September 24th, 2011
12:13 am
Uh ss try and keep up – my 600 + quote came from one of your dim-bulb fans. I couldn’t care less how many yards you get the score will still be in our favor. I’ll come back tomorrow after we school you guys.
Supersize that order, mutt
September 24th, 2011
12:13 am
so who’s a DA? I think the 2-1 record of our hs offense against the heels pretty much speaks for itself.
Ol'JacketFan
September 24th, 2011
12:14 am
You obviously ignored the 59 points per game average. Selective reading? Of not being able to read at all?
Supersize that order, mutt
September 24th, 2011
12:14 am
UNC may be good in basketball, but in football, they pretty suck, and always have
Supersize that order, mutt
September 24th, 2011
12:15 am
He really must be a mutt retard. Surely there are no other fans who ignore facts like the mutts do.
Ol'JacketFan
September 24th, 2011
12:16 am
Yep at least since Choo Choo Justice was there LOL!!!!!!!!!
5150 UOAD
September 24th, 2011
12:16 am
I guess Nebraska did’t have talent when they had the 1st and 2nd place vote getting players in the Heisman trophy voting and the National Champs too. More high Schools are running the Spread now. So i guess it is a High School offense too.
Ol'JacketFan
September 24th, 2011
12:18 am
Nebraska, Oklahoma, Texas, Alabama to name a few
Supersize that order, mutt
September 24th, 2011
12:18 am
OJF, even I’m not that old. LOL
(in small print, actually I am, but just barely. lol)
Ol'JacketFan
September 24th, 2011
12:19 am
25-18-3 all time against the Tar Heels
Supersize that order, mutt
September 24th, 2011
12:19 am
ANYWAY, I’m off to bed. Have a good one, guys. Hopefully see you tomorrow, 5150
Ol'JacketFan
September 24th, 2011
12:20 am
Supersize, nor am I but I managed to do a little research over the years on teams that Tech plays, unlike some folks that come on here and try to impress with the “knowledge”
Ol'JacketFan
September 24th, 2011
12:21 am
Supersize, have fun tomorrow!
5150 UOAD
September 24th, 2011
12:22 am
I didn’t know we played them 46 times. WOW. If LT would just date girls that were as old as the number of wins UN has then he wouldn’t be in trouble so much. Well, the COKE is another thing outside the child ra.e.
Ol'JacketFan
September 24th, 2011
12:23 am
LOL!!!!!!!!!!! Love it 5150
MNP
September 24th, 2011
12:24 am
We have a passing game moron. You don’t pass in the TO. This is a spread option with a bigger emphasis on running. Do you not realize many high schools have spread or pro style offense. Should we call uga a high school offense too? Lack of talent. Ha. At least we have coaches who can coach our talent unlike ugag. The fact more don’t use it makes it even more successful. But watch when we are in a nat champ game soon. Then you will see more switching to it. Now go back to your redneck hillbilly board troll.
Ol'JacketFan
September 24th, 2011
12:24 am
Anyhow, heading off myself. 5150/Supersize enjoy tomorrow and I’ll look for y’all after the game.
Ol'JacketFan
September 24th, 2011
12:25 am
As an ending note, I think tar heel ran away with his tail tucked
Nite all
Taaaarr Heeeeelll
September 24th, 2011
12:25 am
5150 how about looking forward rather than 30 – 40 years in the past.
Just checked – tickets are still available. LMAO Your vaunted team can’t even fill that little stadium.
Ol'JacketFan
September 24th, 2011
12:28 am
I think the Dean dome seats more than Keenan Stadium LOL!!!!!!!!!!!
5150 UOAD
September 24th, 2011
12:29 am
How, when and against who did UNC last sell out your football stadium?
Scott N
September 24th, 2011
12:30 am
Yep definitely a uga fan. No unc fan would say anything about stadium attendance for football.
Taaaarr Heeeeelll
September 24th, 2011
12:30 am
MNP what’s with your obsession with Georgia. I’m talking Tar Heel / GT.
Are you so afraid of Georgia that you accuse a fan from another team as a troll from Georgia. Wow they have really gotten into your head – much like we will tomorrow.
Ol'JacketFan
September 24th, 2011
12:31 am
I see the blog is in good hands
Nite
5150 UOAD
September 24th, 2011
12:31 am
Keenan seats 60K to Dodd’s 55K
Try again
Ol'JacketFan
September 24th, 2011
12:33 am
5150 tongue in cheek, a wee bit of sarcasm
5150 UOAD
September 24th, 2011
12:33 am
Last UNC Sellout i think was the 3rd game of the 2009 season.
5150 UOAD
September 24th, 2011
12:35 am
TAR HEEL
please impress us with more of your vast knowledge.
Mike gt
September 24th, 2011
12:36 am
good article
http://www.ajc.com/sports/georgia-tech/paul-johnsons-game-plan-1187626.html
5150 UOAD
September 24th, 2011
12:36 am
I guess you are spending time to GOOGLE some facts
5150 UOAD
September 24th, 2011
12:38 am
Where did the TARHEELS get their nickname?
5150 UOAD
September 24th, 2011
12:38 am
What was Michael Jordan’s first year at UNC?
If do right, no can defense
September 24th, 2011
12:46 am
I predict a slant pass.
Taaaarr Heeeeelll
September 24th, 2011
12:50 am
Is this quiz night? Go to your room 5150 you are an embarrassment to GT.
For the record I’ll take Chapel Hill over any campus in the country and certainly over GT which is surrounded by Ghetto.
Sleep tight TOAD
5150 UOAD
September 24th, 2011
12:57 am
See you are a DAWG……………no UNC fan would balk at answering those easy questions.
5150 UOAD
September 24th, 2011
12:59 am
If I say Shrunken…………..You finish the rest. If you are a Heel you will know what to say next.
Taaaarr Heeeeelll
September 24th, 2011
1:13 am
Head but what is your point?
5150 UOAD
September 24th, 2011
1:31 am
Heel fan you are not. If you had ever been to UNC Chapel Hill you would know the answer. Of Course HEAD is the easy part to guess If you were a HEEL you would know EXACTLY what I am talking about
superDawg
September 24th, 2011
3:06 am
supersize your yellow belly nerd is showing.talking about being proud of chunking liqour bottles at coaches and players how much more chicken sheet can you get.You whine because people slam your school and fans well you deserve all the ridcule you receive.
Oldjoe
September 24th, 2011
5:30 am
I could well have missed it but has any team ever scored on their 1st play three times in row?
Oldjoe
September 24th, 2011
5:32 am
Has any team ever scored on 1st posession three games in row?
If do right, no can defense
September 24th, 2011
6:10 am
@Oldjoe: I don’t think it has ever been done in FBS. This season, only one other school has scored on the 1st possession in FBS, and that too only once. If GT keeps that streak alive today (against UNC’s NFL caliber defense)… that would be remarkable.
GAMEDAY!
Supersize that order, mutt
September 24th, 2011
7:02 am
superDawg, I wasn’t bragging about what the Tech students did; I think it was totally uncalled for, not to mention dangerous as hell. But at least we at Tech admit what our students and fans may have done through the years. You mutts live in a constant state of denial that your fans are BY FAR the worst fans anywhere. I have been spit at, an aunt of mine was vomted on, a USC fan had a cooler thrown at him. Those are all just isolated events that don’t make the news, and there are thousands of similar incidents that have happened in Athens. And of course there is the trashing of the campus which cost the Georgia taxpayer bundles of money—at least that one DID make the news—national news even. But what do you expect when you have probably 75% of a crowd of 92,000 mostly rednecks who are so drunk they can barely walk. So get off your redneck high horse and face it—your fans are an embarrassment to the state of Georgia and to college football as a whole.
Supersize that order, mutt
September 24th, 2011
7:04 am
superDawg, by the way, tell me where in what I posted last night that I said I was proud of what happened in those Tech – Notre Dame games. CAN YOU READ???