Thumbs-up for Georgia Tech special teams
Greetings-
Funny the difference a week makes and some kudos to BigTimeTechFan, who last Monday predicted “Yellow Jackets in a blowout.” He was a little more on the ball than Dawgfan, who prophesied that “CLAMPSUN WILL DESTROY THAT STUPID YOUTH FOOTBALL OFFENSE.”
A couple thoughts and I’ve got to get moving.
1. After taking a lot of heat, special teams gets a pretty big assist for its role in Saturday’s win. Clemson’s starting field position on its seven kickoff returns – the 28, 26, 50, 28, 30 and 11. Considering Sammy Watkins had been averaging 28.9 yards per return (24.6 if you factor out his 89-yard return) and Tech’s kickoffs were landing around the 10, that’s pretty good work. Jemea Thomas had one good stop and I think wasn’t credited for another. Watkins also ran into one of his own players and was downed on another. When that happened, it made me kind of think it was going to be Tech’s night.
Sean Poole and the punt team netted 44.0 yards on three punts. Tech had to, at least, play Clemson’s special teams to a draw, and the Jackets did at least that. (Clemson’s initial kickoff went out of bounds and Chandler Catanzaro missed a field goal from 40 yards in the second quarter.)
If Poole can develop consistency, he can be a valuable weapon.
2. I’m not a fan of repeating cliches – I am, however, a fan of Sushi Yoko, a Japanese restaurant in Doraville – but I’m going to go with “You’re never as good as you think after a win and you’re never as bad as you think after a loss,” if that’s the proper phrasing. Please don’t read this as “Georgia Tech got lucky,” because the Yellow Jackets were clearly the better team Saturday.
I think running back Andre Ellington being out was a pretty big break for Tech. I’m not saying it made the difference, but he would have given Clemson more of a chance. I’m sure if you go to a Clemson message board, you can find more “if only’s,” but that was a pretty big one.
It’s the same line of thinking, mind you, that the Tech-Miami game could have turned out differently had Roddy Jones not gotten the facemask call and Zach Laskey had avoided the punt inside the 10-yard line. Tech played pretty poorly, but the Jackets weren’t as bad as they showed that day. The result made it easy to think that Tech couldn’t beat Clemson (unless you’re BigTimeTechFan). Likewise, beating Clemson doesn’t mean the Jackets will beat Virginia Tech. Or Duke, for that matter (which could have easily beaten the Hokies Saturday).
I can think of plenty of reasons why both may happen, but I also had a lot of reasons why they would beat Virginia and Miami. I’m not saying it won’t happen – I’d say chances are more favorable it will – but banking on it is probably not wise.
Saturday was just a reminder of how much this game rests on the emotion and intensity of post-adolescents. A week after beating Oklahoma, Texas Tech lost at home to Iowa State 41-7. The Cyclones had lost their first four Big 12 games by an average of 24.3 points. I’m going to guess that the Texas Tech players’ (and maybe coaches’) heads were in the clouds all week. Same with Michigan State, which got drummed by Nebraska a week after upsetting Wisconsin in about the most euphoric manner imaginable.
“It’s hard to explain why we weren’t on top of our game, knowing we’re going to get their best shot,” Tommy Tuberville told the Lubbock Avalanche-Journal. “But we weren’t. We just had no emotion — coaching or playing.
“It was kind of like, ‘Hey, it’s going to happen. We beat somebody last week. It’s going to happen.’ But no matter who you’re playing, they also have a football team. They also play hard, and they’ve got good players, and they’ve got good coaches.”
Paul Johnson, last week: “I expect to win every game, I want to win every game. But the reality is the other teams have 85 other scholarship players and they pay their coaches and they try to win, too. That’s why you play the games.”
Links
Game story, notes and Monday follow story from the Charleston Post and Courier.
Stories putting Clemson loss in perspective Anderson Independent Mail. The first has a funny detail. Writer Greg Wallace tweeted awhile ago that an Orange Bowl berth would be a great accomplishment for Clemson, and some fans responded that that statement was insulting. A whole bunch of more posts from the game.
No practice today, so this should be it for Monday. Thanks for reading. Happy Halloween!
Please follow on Facebook and Twitter.
Ken Sugiura, Georgia Tech blog
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419 comments Add your comment
GT FAN IN PA
October 31st, 2011
3:44 pm
Good one Tampa I even have the Dawgs one from 1980 as well- I use to have an Uncle and every year he would buy me GA Gear in which I would throw in the fireplace or to my dog- that year I kept the Coke bottle- he also bought me Tech gear every year to replace it- became a running joke- may he RIP-
Supersize that order, mutt
October 31st, 2011
3:45 pm
Ramblin Man, very good points. My TEMPORARY email address is supersizeorder@yahoo.com. Drop me an email, with some kind of “proof” that you are not some troll who reads this. I will try to keep you updated on plans for the game.
Supersize that order, mutt
October 31st, 2011
3:46 pm
tp, I truly think that’s coming—-it’s just a matter of when. Sooner rather than later though. The whole setup now is a total farce
TampaDawg
October 31st, 2011
3:46 pm
tp jones
October 31st, 2011
3:34 pm
HAHA a pet. That’s good stuff. I think true chaos would ensue if Alabama were to beat LSU, then lose to UGA in the SEC Championship. If you’re left with an undefeated OK State team & Boise, does a 1 loss SEC jump one of them? I think yes.
———————–
Possibly, just based on strength of schedule alone. BSU beat us pretty good, but the fact is, that’s their MO. They put a quality team on their schedule on the first game of the year so they have all the time they need to prep for the game and it’s a known fact, that if you are going to compete with a team that is normally considered a better team, first game of the year is the best time to do it. After that, what does BSU have left on their schedule? Nevada?
Ramblin Man
October 31st, 2011
3:47 pm
tp jones, I am right there with you. Could not be happier that GT ruined the chances for VT in 09 and now Clemson, but I was interested to see the outcome if Clemson were to have gone undefeated. Hopefully with the expansions Slive and Swofford can push for the play off system again and get more traction with it.
carolinajacket
October 31st, 2011
3:47 pm
I have the Look Magazine with Marilyn Monroe in a Tech sweater cover. That ain’t bad.
Supersize that order, mutt
October 31st, 2011
3:47 pm
FAN IN PA, nice story
GIVE ME A BREAK
October 31st, 2011
3:48 pm
I watched Allatoona defeat my grandson’s Gilmer Co. team Friday night. When a back for Allatoona broke a long touchdown run, I asked my son what college he was going to, he said Kentucky. It was Miles Jones, you could tell that he was a little better than the rest. Potential Yellow Jacket.
Supersize that order, mutt
October 31st, 2011
3:48 pm
carolinajacket, that should be a collector’s item, although most libraries in the country probably have it in their stacks.
carolinajacket
October 31st, 2011
3:49 pm
Well she was, if they don’t.
GT FAN IN PA
October 31st, 2011
3:50 pm
In regards to the schedules- Stanford still has Oregon on the schedule don’t they and then who wins in the other divison AZ State I think? OK State could still run the table as well.
GT FAN IN PA
October 31st, 2011
3:52 pm
OK State will have a pretty good SOS too if they remain undefeated don’t see a one loss team jumping that.
Supersize that order, mutt
October 31st, 2011
3:52 pm
I recorded the 1990 Tech – UVA game on VHS along with the radio play-by-play with Ciraldo and King. A friend of mine put it on DVD for me with two versions—-one with the TV play-by-play, and the other with the radio play-by-play. I will probably never watch it again, but just having it is a source of pride
GT45
October 31st, 2011
3:52 pm
We ought to be proud about how loud Clemson said it was in BD! Second only to Lane. I’m very proud of how we regrouped. I think we will run the table, but it will be tough goings from here on out. The break couldn’t come at a better time!
William Casey
October 31st, 2011
3:53 pm
THINGS THAT THIS OLD MAN DOESN’T UNDERSTAND (but is willing to learn about):
1. Why fans of rival teams go to other team blogs to denigrate and be nasty.
2. Why sociopaths try to influence a high school player’s choice of schools.
3. Why any living creature would create a website such as the “firepauljohnson” one.
The only explanations that I can think of are:
1. They have no job.
2. They have no meaningful life.
Supersize that order, mutt
October 31st, 2011
3:53 pm
OK may very well beat OK State
Delbert D.
October 31st, 2011
3:55 pm
I’ve got one of the unopened Coke bottles from 1990 GT NC game, and I even have one unopened for East Marietta’s Little League World Championship.
Supersize that order, mutt
October 31st, 2011
3:55 pm
GT45, did they say it was loud? I hadn’t heard that, but boy it sure sounded loud to me. I think the way the stadium is built, with the stands right on top of the field like that allows it to sound even louder than a larger stadium in a bowl shape.
tp jones
October 31st, 2011
3:56 pm
@TampaDawg, I think if you guys played them at any other point in the season, you guys win easily. If there ever was a season I wanted Boise to go undefeated, it would be this one. I dislike the BCS because it fosters a system of corruption and doesn’t reward all of the teams and players that prepare and play hard all season.
William Casey
October 31st, 2011
3:56 pm
@Supersize: I have the 1990 GT-UVA game on tape and watch it every now and then. Most fun was watching it a couple of years ago with my son who was still in his Mom’s belly when that game was played. LOL
The BCS scenario still goes through Oklahoma...
October 31st, 2011
3:56 pm
If OKState loses to OK (and the Big 12 has no championship game this year), and Stanford loses to Oregon or ND (or their PAC 12 championship game), and Boise State remains undefeated, I can easily see the coaches and computers putting either the LSU/AL loser or OK (if they beat OKState) in MNC game against the SEC winner (if they win the SEC championship game)over and undefeated Boise State –
AND, Boise State still has to play TCU…definitely not a gimme game
Supersize that order, mutt
October 31st, 2011
3:56 pm
I’ve got one single unopened bottle in addition to my six-pack of unopened bottles for the 1990 NC
Supersize that order, mutt
October 31st, 2011
3:58 pm
William Casey, I bet you would enjoy it even more if you could hear Ciraldo and King doing the play-by-play over the video. BTW, that’s a good way to start off a kid’s life, huh?
Ramblin Man
October 31st, 2011
3:59 pm
I am out of here guys. Super I sent you a message hope it is enough.
needles
October 31st, 2011
4:04 pm
Wait Tampa dog, u mean there is no leg-humpers taking shots at Tech fans on here?
TampaDawg
October 31st, 2011
4:05 pm
@William Casey ..
You forgot number 3 on your list
They do it because their own self-image sucks so bad that it makes them feel better about themselves.
Nerd Herd
October 31st, 2011
4:13 pm
Another reference to MM….Geritol guys just love Norma.
Delbert D.
October 31st, 2011
4:13 pm
William Casey – Right, but probably the wrong order. A person who has an antisocial personality disorder could probably do the other things. “Sociopath” and “psychopath” are are still commonly used shorthand for a multitude of mental problems, but in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual the both of the terms changed to ASPD in DSM-IV, which is about to be replaced with DSM-V in a couple of controversial years. The guy who wrote most of it apparently doesn’t like it now. The things that people do don’t change, just the definitions. Don’t know if *that* accomplishes much. Back when I was a Psych major, Freudian analysis will still the thing.
Supersize that order, mutt
October 31st, 2011
4:14 pm
I’m outta here for awhile too, guys. Have fun
Nerd Herd
October 31st, 2011
4:14 pm
Good to see the old guys spirits have been raised by a win over Clumpson.
Supersize that order, mutt
October 31st, 2011
4:15 pm
Delbert, you need to simplify all that for the mutt trolls. LOL
Nerd Herd
October 31st, 2011
4:15 pm
Looks like it is early bird time at Piccadilly’s….
crackbaby
October 31st, 2011
4:16 pm
@TampaDawg & @WilliamCasey:]
No. 4 – They have no manners or consideration for others and through an anonymous blog they can spout inconsequential bile without being held accountable.
crackbaby
October 31st, 2011
4:20 pm
Would like to congratulate the Tech defense on a well played game. Secondary was big time and the front seven made plays. Taj Boyd did not throw well under pressure.
Al Groh is improving our D dramatically. Deserves a little credit after all the griping he endured.
The atmosphere @ BDS was electric!
Supersize that order, mutt
October 31st, 2011
4:21 pm
If a troll makes a comment and nobody responds, is he still an azzhole?
GT FAN IN PA
October 31st, 2011
4:29 pm
Super if you ever wish to burn a copy of that I would like to put my name at the top of the list for a copy sir-
Delbert D.
October 31st, 2011
4:33 pm
VT’s scoring defense through 9 games:
App. St. – 13
E. Carolina – 10
Ark. St. – 7
Marshall – 10
Clemson – 23
Miami – 35
Wake F. – 17
B. C. – 14
Duke – 10
Spyro
October 31st, 2011
4:34 pm
This was exactly what we needed from the special teams. For the most part, they went totally unnoticed; that’s good. Heck, even most of the kickoffs landed inside the 10-yard line. Good job, guys!
Also, I wasn’t quite sure how I still had a voice after the game. But hell, I’ll take it.
carolinajacket
October 31st, 2011
4:36 pm
In today’s football that is very good. I still think that we can whip them if we don’t beat ourselves, which we surely did not do, thank goodness, against a very good CU team
Spyro
October 31st, 2011
4:39 pm
Delbert, the most impressive one on that list might be holding Clemson to 23. ECU, Marshall, and both ASU are not high caliber teams. (ECU would be thought to be the best, but they lost to Houston 56-3) Duke and BC do not have good or consistent offenses. Holding Wake to 17 a decent performance. And, of course, giving up 35 to any team isn’t particularly good. Our offense should have a shot at putting up a decent number.
Nerd Herd
October 31st, 2011
4:41 pm
Where’s the rest of the Geritol Guys? Bed time early tonight? No trick or treating in the halls at the home?
duronimo
October 31st, 2011
4:42 pm
Tech won and looked great doing it. An occasional bad game, not withstanding, their fans can clearly see what this team is capable of. With Georgia, every years is the same. The team plays below expectations but play well enough to tantalize the fans into thinking that at some point they are going to “put it together.” Even when they win, something dysfunctional is usually going on in the game.
IL Jacket
October 31st, 2011
4:51 pm
Delbert, thanks for the info on the BCS contract. That dovetails pretty well with what I understand is the Big East’s 27 month notice rule. With Pitt, Syracuse and WVU giving notice this fall, it means fall 2014 will be the first full football season with only 7 for the Big East.
Supersize that order, mutt
October 31st, 2011
4:57 pm
FAN IN PA, are you still there?
Get Real
October 31st, 2011
4:57 pm
The Big Least going out of existence as a football conference? And to think they had a better record in BCS games than the A She She…..who in fact has won a BCS game from the A She She? I know of VT over Cincinnati but are there any others?
Bobby Dodd
October 31st, 2011
4:58 pm
Hey Carolina Jacket,
“Strong legs run so that weak legs may walk”. Anybody else remember that one?
Bobby Dodd
October 31st, 2011
4:59 pm
Hey Get Real,
Anybody east of AL and north of FL won one? HA HA HA
Supersize that order, mutt
October 31st, 2011
5:00 pm
Bobby Dodd, I remember it
Vegas
October 31st, 2011
5:02 pm
Anybody in here seen a character named “headley lamar”? I’ve come to collect and I am also going to explain to him what vigorish is.
carolinajacket
October 31st, 2011
5:03 pm
Yep. They always passed the buckets for the money. Now-a-days, I wonder if the buckets would get through.