Georgia Tech jumps in polls to No. 13

One day after improving to 5-0 for the first time since 1990, Georgia Tech jumped eight spots in both polls to No. 13. It’s the highest the Yellow Jackets have been since finishing the 2009 season in the same spot.

After beating N.C. State 45-35 Saturday in Raleigh, Tech benefited from eight higher-ranked teams losing. Tech’s ascent has been swift. The Jackets didn’t receive any votes in the preseason Associated Press poll and only one vote, for 25th, in the USA Today coaches poll.

They cracked the top 25 in the Sept. 18 poll after defeating Kansas 66-24 to improve to 3-0 and moved to No. 21 last Sunday after beating North Carolina Sept. 24.

208 comments Add your comment

VictorV

October 2nd, 2011
4:12 pm

Saban

October 2nd, 2011
4:13 pm

Go Jackets. Trailor park trash in Athens will be getting new daddies everywhere beginning in Tenn.

Tech 45 Maryland10

Trembleing whatevers 3 Tenn 44

To He'll With Georgia

October 2nd, 2011
4:27 pm

Moved 8 spots in one week was kinda hoping to move only one or two hope that Johnson stays all over them this week and we can put a monster game up on Maryland 42-7 Gooooooooo jackets sting em

Jacket 92

October 2nd, 2011
4:30 pm

I’m excited that we’re getting some respect in the polls and that we are ranked as high as we are. It means, unlike in some past years, that if this team continues to take care of its business on the field, we will be well positioned within the BCS system when bowl selection time rolls around.

With that said, I do think we are a bit overrated now. There are at least a half dozen teams ranked below us that I would not want to play right now. I blame Ken for our generous rankings. His link to the geographic distribution of AP rankings must have got the attention of the Southeastern voters. Way to go Ken!

Hayseed Dixie

October 2nd, 2011
4:32 pm

I thought maybe #17. I think it’s likely they couldn’t ignore the stats anymore.

Rankings are fun, but they don’t mean jack outside the top 5, sometimes not even that. Ask Virginia Polytech.

The target on our backs just got bigger.

Hayseed Dixie

October 2nd, 2011
4:33 pm

@Jacket 92

You’re right, rankings can equal respect with recruits and some folks. So I guess they’re good for some things.

GIVE ME A BREAK

October 2nd, 2011
4:35 pm

Just lost another comment.

GIVE ME A BREAK

October 2nd, 2011
4:37 pm

Plenty to clean up before Saturday. We’ll be there cheering the ” YELLOW JACKETS ” on to 6-0. ” STOMP MARYLAND “

GIVE ME A BREAK

October 2nd, 2011
4:39 pm

Ken, just lost two comments. See you later.

What are haters to do?

October 2nd, 2011
4:40 pm

They gonna hate.

We didn’t play like a top 13 team against NCST, but every team is entitled to its crappy games (see Bama v. Tenn in 2009). I have no doubt Tevin will get his head back on straight and deliver stellar performances in the future….

GIVE ME A BREAK

October 2nd, 2011
4:41 pm

STOMP MARYLAND.

Old Gold

October 2nd, 2011
4:42 pm

A couple of thoughts:

In each of the past two games, Georgia Tech has left a boatload of points on the field. UNC easily could have been 49 (dropped TD pass, fumble in the red zone); NCSU should have hit 66 again (questionable holding call negating a 71-yard TD run, rare failure on 4th and 1 on the 3-yard line, and at least one miss of wide-open receivers running 20-yards open in the secondary.

Can’t leave points on the field against Clemson, Virginia Tech, or Georgia and expect to win. That said, while the defense appears to be slightly improved but still has a way to go, it will be hard to beat a Tech team putting 40+points on the board.

19

October 2nd, 2011
4:49 pm

Agreed Old Gold! Go Tech!

reebok

October 2nd, 2011
4:51 pm

we need to throttle maryland, let tevin get his passsing touch back…as weak as our D has looked, it’s hard for me to believe we are really a top-15 program, but hey…I’ll take it!

GIVE ME A BREAK

October 2nd, 2011
4:52 pm

Go Detroit. Stafford to Johnson,what a combo. 4-0 That $150,000,000 is paying off.

19

October 2nd, 2011
4:53 pm

As a fan I’m happy to be 5-0 and ranked. One game at a time. Go Tech!

Hayseed Dixie

October 2nd, 2011
4:54 pm

@Old Gold

You’re 100% correct. I believe that if Tech learns to not take its foot off the gas they’ll have a chance against anyone.

CPJ talks about his guys playing “nasty”, let’s see if he can teach em to do so.

Anon

October 2nd, 2011
4:57 pm

Calvin Johnson, only receiver with 2 tds in each game so far this year.

Wreckamania

October 2nd, 2011
5:03 pm

and UGA is where?

HoldOn

October 2nd, 2011
5:07 pm

It’s great to be 5-0 but let’s consider the teams played so far. It will get much tougher as the schedule progresses but let’s just be proud of the Jackets so far. The defense really has me worried – almost let NC State back in the game. Cannot do that against Clemson, Miami or FL State. It’s okay against Georgia as they are losers anyway.

HoldOn

October 2nd, 2011
5:13 pm

@ Wreck, UGA is in the cellar as expected. An easy win in November. Easy. Something like GT 37 – UGA 13….wait, make that 10 as the fg kicker cannot hit a male bovine in the rear end with a bass cello. UGA gets a new coach in 2012.

Punting is not an option

October 2nd, 2011
5:14 pm

GT has a gimmick offense that has seen its glory days 20-30 years ago. Once other teams figure out, it will go nowhere.

Well, at least that’s what my co-worker has been telling me.

Fratersby

October 2nd, 2011
5:16 pm

We need to put a huge numbers on MD for our team confidence, our fan base’s sake, and hopefully with three above us losing, into the top 10 :)

Anon

October 2nd, 2011
5:17 pm

Punting- One of these days those that say that will realize how stupid it sounds. When run correctly, it’s unstoppable.

Anon

October 2nd, 2011
5:19 pm

Difficult to crack the top of the rankings without starting off ranked. Tech has come a long way, just need to take care of business one game at a time.

TVFan

October 2nd, 2011
5:20 pm

I really like Georgia Tech and love to watch their offense, but this rating is too high this early in the season. They need to improve their defense and the QB needs to do better passing. He left too many big plays on the field Saturday.

Jack Flash

October 2nd, 2011
5:21 pm

Lack of focus for periods of the game consern me. We’re going to need to play complete games against the likes of clemson, vt and ugh… and probably miami. That said, they are improving in the area of turnovers and special teams. If the D line can begin to bring pressure up the middle, they’ll be able to take the next step up.

Not Disappointed

October 2nd, 2011
5:25 pm

The rating is nice but I’m concern about Maryland! For the defense to play pretty good in the first half. It looked somewhat lost in the 4th quarter. I know, they took out some of the 1st string but giving up 2 TD’s at the end was unacceptable. Has anyone heard how Jeremiah Attaochu is doing or did I miss the update? Nevertheless, Ramblin Wreck!

GT

October 2nd, 2011
5:27 pm

Guys Listen at the end of the year we as Tech fans ALLLLL hope we get to play these folks right here.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aXIN_LBRvt8&feature=related

But thats our perspective at this point in the season…NOW if we don’t mess things up and start playing better..

Nuff said…Nuff motivation

ramblin man

October 2nd, 2011
5:29 pm

i’m excited like everyone because i think this could be a special season, but i’ve seen/heard too much of “we’ll be undefeated when we play clemson!”. pleaaaase one game at a time, at least I hope the team looks at it that way…

ramblin man

October 2nd, 2011
5:30 pm

take care of maryland then lets move on to the next game. if we can do just that, then our eventual ranking will be pretty darn solid.

Jacket Man

October 2nd, 2011
5:30 pm

The toughest game of the year is next Saturday. After going up 42-14 and getting complacent, I’m sure Paul Johnson has plenty to talk about this week as they prepare for Maryland. One thing the team did was get their first team defense out of the game early and give the young guys game experience running the prevent defense. This has been important because Tech suffered injuries to 2 starting linebackers Saturday and reserves had to step in and play. They did well so the other reserves also need game experience.

The reserve offense team also got snaps, and it was unfortunate Days had the turnover (fumble recovery that led to the TD) when he was supposed to down the ball, but he’s young and those things are why he’s getting playing time in these types of games.

does anyone remember

October 2nd, 2011
5:34 pm

that is outstanding, go Jackets!

Stinger1

October 2nd, 2011
5:35 pm

I knew alot of attention went to the special teams & much needed,but as we all Tech fans are thinking right now we can NEVER be overconfident at any time . I know you all were yelling at the tv like I was ( passionate about Tech) with the lack luster effort we saw for quite a while. Boy we have alot of pride to root for & team to play for . But We know improvement has to happen if we are to compete with the big boys . Agree?

collegeballfan

October 2nd, 2011
5:40 pm

I do not bye # 13. Not with this defense. Not with the all youth on defense.

Tech is a year away from having a top 10 type season.

To he'll with Georgia

October 2nd, 2011
5:48 pm

Stinger 1 I agree I think that tech has to come out and play better each week I think that bye Miami, Clemson, and vt. We will be playing solid ball. Big O for Heisman

To he'll with Georgia

October 2nd, 2011
5:51 pm

Collegeballfan wait and see did you think Clemson was at the beginning of this season you never no.

Buzzzed

October 2nd, 2011
6:05 pm

A better ranking is more conducive to avoiding 12pm game times.

ramblin man

October 2nd, 2011
6:09 pm

but buzzed, i hear cpj likes the noon game times haha. whatever makes our coach happy makes me happy

Stinger1

October 2nd, 2011
6:37 pm

People forget that Clemson almost lost to Wofford. I’m just glad that we are doing much better than the expectations of all the Magazines & sports writers. Again I say, they should wait until 4 weeks to START a top 25 poll.
We deserve better than 21 to start with . Nobody has mentioned the GREAT letdown of “the great FSU team” . Geez how time has changed since then. Hmmmm.. Go Tech !!!!!!!!!!!!

duece coupe

October 2nd, 2011
6:41 pm

Great coverage Ken,
#13 is just the beginning of a special season.

Flowery Branch Yellow Jacket

October 2nd, 2011
6:44 pm

Don’t think for a minute that our ranking won’t drop like a rock if we lose any of the next three games. While some might “expect” us to lose to Clemson, we will be the clear favorite between now and then. If Tech doesn’t focus on fundamentals and take care of Maryland, Virginia, and Miami, then the Clemson game won’t seem nearly as important, and we might not even be ranked in the top 20 at the time of that game.

With that said, I’m confident that Tech has both the talent and the coaching to win the remaining games between now and the Orange Bowl. Of course, anyone who has been a Tech fan for more than one season knows that we don’t always play up to our full potential. While I’m cautiously optimistic, I can’t and won’t get too excited until after the ACC Championship Game.

Go Jackets!

GT71

October 2nd, 2011
6:53 pm

Keep pedal to metal. When you got them down, kick’em, then go kick their dog an talk bad about their mamas – I’ve said this before. Gotta have a killer instinct – and we don’t right now.
Old Gold’s right. and
Give me a break – copy your posts to clipboard and when they are ”rejected”, re-read and find the offending word or phrase – change it a bit from a paste and re-do. It’s the only way to not lose some deathless prose.
Take any ranking you can get – it doesn’t really matter at this point. Talk about that stuff after the Clempson, VPI and Miami games…and then BEAT GEORGIA! The BCS will take care of itself.

Dabo

October 2nd, 2011
7:06 pm

yall techies look pretty nice, but my tigers look better! If we both keep winning the next 3 weeks, it’ll set up a Battle Royale on Oct 29. Two top-10 teams battelin’ it out in a preview of the ACCCG! whoooo weee! gets my orange blood pumpin like a tick on tree stump.

dont ask me what that means. My mama used to say it ‘foreshe whipped me with broom stick.

19

October 2nd, 2011
7:10 pm

We_Run_This_Country

October 2nd, 2011
7:10 pm

while GT is busy winning games and staying unbeaten, UGAg players are out driving drunk and endangering the public!

GT FANatic

October 2nd, 2011
7:19 pm

Is it against NCAA rules for CPJ to sell his sperm. I want my daughter to have it.

We love you CPJ. You are awesome!

19

October 2nd, 2011
7:21 pm

Country, that just invites them. From what I’ve read he was speeding and had a couple of shots hours earlier. I’m glad no one was injured and I hope he will learn from this experience. There is no excuse for drinking and then driving. People get killed!
Go Tech!

19

October 2nd, 2011
7:24 pm

FANatic, you’ll need to look that one up by yourself. LOL

Go Tech! 5-0 and #13 in the nation!

NO FEAR

October 2nd, 2011
7:25 pm

13? I don’t think so. 20th maybe, but 13th is a stretch. I would rather play under the radar so that the team stays focused. I think the pollsters are moving us up in hopes Tech and Clemson stay undefeated until we play. Tech’s got alot of problems to fix before we become a top 15 team. If we stay undefeated until the Clemson game I definitely think we’re a top 20 team. GOOOOOOOOOOOOO TECH.