Look back at Georgia, bowl talk
Greetings-
Hope you are well and have adequately processed Saturday’s game. To me, it ended up pretty simple. Georgia had the better team and Georgia Tech needed to play a near-flawless game to have a chance. It didn’t, and the Jackets lost.
Last Tuesday, Roddy Jones didn’t exactly give away the game plan, but this is what he said: “It’ll definitely be a hard-fought battle and come down to execution.”
It was and it did. Georgia made the plays and Tech didn’t, in part because the Bulldogs were more capable and positioned to make them. Georgia’s offensive line was probably the best that Tech has faced this season, and same goes for quarterback Aaron Murray and tight end Orson Charles at their respective positions.
To me, the Jackets lost the game (or Georgia won it) once they failed to hold serve in the third quarter, giving Georgia great field position with the kick return and two interceptions and then failing to generate points on the ensuing possessions.
1. For what it’s worth, coach Paul Johnson made mention of the late second-quarter field goal that Georgia kicker Blair Walsh hit, and how it changed the momentum and how it had happened a few times previously this season that Tech has scored late in the half and then let the opponent answer with another score. I thought it’d be worth looking up.
Tech’s opponent was the last to score in the first half seven times, and six of those times it was inside the final two minutes.
Including Saturday’s game, there were four instances of what Johnson mentioned – a late second-quarter score by Tech trumped by an opponent score – one of which was followed by a Jackets field goal.
Against Western Carolina, Jones scored on a 26-yard touchdown pass with 2:21 remaining. Tech got the ball back but had its field-goal try blocked and returned for a touchdown with no time left.
Against Kansas, Justin Moore made a 24-yard field goal with 39 seconds remaining, and the Jayhawks went 60 yards in four plays to set up a field goal. Kansas’ kicker missed his first attempt left but got another try on a Tech penalty and made the second from 28 yards.
Against Miami, Tech drove 92 yards in 20 plays, scoring on a Tevin Washington keeper with 1:02 remaining to close to 14-7. Miami returned the kickoff to the Tech 46 and got into the end zone in three plays and 25 seconds to make the score 21-7.
Against Virginia Tech, Moore scored a field goal with 1:00 remaining to close to 14-10, but Hokies quarterback Logan Thomas hit Danny Coale for a 63-yard yard touchdown and a 21-10 lead. Tech responded in that instance with a half-ending field goal.
Technically speaking, the Virginia Tech example is a little gray, as the Jackets answered the Coale touchdown. Still, both instances with Miami and the Hokies were pretty damaging.
2. I think Tech is headed to the Sun Bowl and I also think the Chick-fil-A Bowl is not very excited about its ACC options, assuming Virginia Tech wins the ACC title. I think the first because Sun Bowl executive director Bernie Olivas said as much in an interview with me on Saturday after the game, saying the Jackets look like the pick right now if they’re available.
As for the second, if the Hokies win, here are Chick-fil-A Bowl president Gary Stokan’s options: Clemson, which would have lost three games in a row and four of its last five and likely would drop out of the BCS rankings (the Tigers are No. 20); Virginia, which was building momentum but got hammered by Virginia Tech on Saturday; Florida State, which got back into both polls after beating Florida, but which I don’t think is much of an option because the Seminoles played there last year, and Tech, which also lost Saturday in dispiriting fashion.
One possible problem for Tech and the Sun Bowl would occur if Clemson gets drilled and the Chick-fil-A decides it can’t take the Tigers and takes, I guess, Virginia. (Even if Clemson lost badly, it doesn’t seem likely the Tigers still wouldn’t come to Atlanta.) In this scenario, then the Champs Sports Bowl takes Florida State and then the Sun Bowl would take Clemson, as it’s contractually obligated to take the ACC title-game loser if available. The next game would be the Belk Bowl in Charlotte, which may well jump on N.C. State, a local team that finished hot. That would give the Jackets to the Franklin American Mortgage Music City Bowl in Nashville.
3. That’s about it. I’ve got a couple things to get cranking on for Tuesday’s paper.
The All-ACC team will be released at 3 p.m. today. I’ll have something up on the blog shortly after. My guess is guard Omoregie Uzzi will be on the first team and deservedly so. A-back Orwin Smith and linebacker Julian Burnett have a shot at first team.
Ken Sugiura, Georgia Tech blog
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182 comments Add your comment
5150 UOAD
November 28th, 2011
2:23 pm
headley……………..Suck my Richt. How many names have been posting under since the game? We have seen you all over Schultz blog using about 7 different names. Why are you so SCARED to pick and name and stick with it? You are a Puzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz.
5150 UOAD
November 28th, 2011
2:26 pm
headley get it right you stupid F.
SEC 3
ACC 2
hedgepruner
November 28th, 2011
2:27 pm
Virginia Tech would kick ugaly ass too….Logan Thomas would run all over your defense ….good luck this weekend your going to need it , and I wish our players would shut up about fans showing up because until you stop laying an egg everytime against uga it will probably stay that way …I WAS THERE the last six games at home against uga and I am thinking about staying at home the next time so get passionate & fired up because its the STATE RIVAL guys , I still love the Jackets !!!
THWG …LSwho 39-10 !!!
Buzzed
November 28th, 2011
2:28 pm
Reebok: It wasn’t so much booing, but there was a lot of organized “THWG” cheers that popped up during the Munson tribute at halftime – started by the yellow people in the south end zone. Most of the really bad blood seems to be on the blogs by people who possibly don’t even go to the games or support the schools financially. And maybe you can explain to me and a lot of other folks about why the Budweiser song? It’s symbolism and relevance to football escapes me.
TampaDawg
November 28th, 2011
2:29 pm
jacketbrave
November 28th, 2011
2:14 pm
those who say the stands were filled with uga fans, actually it wasnt 70% UGA. it was 75% GT…. the tv only shows the visiting section, yet the other side holds season ticket holders
—————–
Actually, the TV broadcast showed the GT sections quite a bit. But, being honest here, there were sooo many empty seats that they showed one or two times in the second quarter then never again did they have the cameras anywhere near those sections.
Buzzed
November 28th, 2011
2:30 pm
And congrats on your UGA wife.
SC Tech fan
November 28th, 2011
2:33 pm
Here’s wishing LSU great success in the Championship game. What can you say about a bunch of idiots who can’t spell DOG, and that means you J.Dawg (dumb ass).
BreakingNews
November 28th, 2011
2:33 pm
TevanWashington4Heisman.com
BreakingNews
November 28th, 2011
2:35 pm
SC Tech fan:
Nice that you have to lower yourself to talking trash about spelling. I mean, I guess since your crappy triple-option team and your fat coach can’t help you back up your trash talk regarding football, you’ve had to move on to a different topic to trash talk about.
10 out of 11…..STINGS doesn’t it?
5150 UOAD
November 28th, 2011
2:37 pm
Murray for heisman…………….Murray 10-9 beating how many Top 25 teams? Beating how many teams with better than .500 record?
5150 UOAD
November 28th, 2011
2:37 pm
Sorry 16-9
reebok
November 28th, 2011
2:37 pm
Buzzed – LOL…thanks…we are indeed a House Divided. Not sure when and how the Budweiser thing started…I’ve only been attending games regularly for about 10 years, and they’ve been doing it as long as I’ve been going…
BreakingNews
November 28th, 2011
2:39 pm
I don’t see any Dawg fans calling for Murray to be a Heisman candidate…I’m sure not. Thanks again for starting Reggie Ball, Jr. against us on Saturday! Keep up the great trash talk and we’ll be looking for your next win vs. the Dawgs, sometime between 2012 and 2022.
5150 UOAD
November 28th, 2011
2:39 pm
How MUCH will UGa pay to get O. Charles to come back for his senior year?
5150 UOAD
November 28th, 2011
2:41 pm
Who called for tevin washington 4 the heisman?
headley with his other name…………..BreakingNews
BreakingNews
November 28th, 2011
2:42 pm
Maybe you Techies should pay him to NOT come back…
BreakingNews
November 28th, 2011
2:43 pm
Not Headley – I don’t even know who that is…
The Tevin thing was a joke – much like your team. It was a play off of the joke you guys pulled with the whole Nesbitt4Heisman.com thing…remember that? Good times!
BreakingNews
November 28th, 2011
2:45 pm
5150 – maybe you should switch websites and start trash talking on Clemson blogs or Boston College or some other team you guys can actually compete with. I mean, really…this “rivalry” isn’t exactly working out for you…
The Grinch
November 28th, 2011
2:47 pm
Is Paul Johnson so arrogant that he won’t even consider replacing Groh?
reebok
November 28th, 2011
2:49 pm
perhaps Johnson knows that Tech doesn’t have the defensive talent yet to compete with the upper-tier programs…so replacing Groh w/ someone else wouldn’t improve anything. we have got to get some better recruiting classes.
doodoobailey
November 28th, 2011
2:50 pm
“Is Paul Johnson so arrogant that he won’t even consider replacing Groh?”
Yes. Actually, he should replace himself, Groh did a much better job at UVA.
doodoobailey
November 28th, 2011
2:51 pm
WHERE IS SUPERSIZE???? I HAVE HAIKU’S FOR HIM…
realfan
November 28th, 2011
2:51 pm
Did any of you immature idiots posting hate mail at each other on this blog ever think you are the problem. That the real Tech and Georgia fans don’t get on here and post crap about each other and their schools. I just stopped by to read the blog and you don’t need to trash me. I am gone and won’t be reading it.
doodoobailey
November 28th, 2011
2:52 pm
Goodbye realfan…..(sniff, sniff)
The Grinch
November 28th, 2011
2:52 pm
reebok
November 28th, 2011
2:49 pm
If you have trouble attracting the talent needed to run a 3-4 then you might want to consider another defensive scheme (or coordinator). Just sayin….
DawginLex
November 28th, 2011
2:54 pm
5150
You are too smart to bash Murray.
He is the real deal and getting better.
Can’t help how the teams on our schedule played.
You play your schedule which was done years in advance.
TampaDawg
November 28th, 2011
2:55 pm
5150 UOAD
November 28th, 2011
2:39 pm
How MUCH will UGa pay to get O. Charles to come back for his senior year?
—————————————
So that’s where it’s going now 5150? Accusing UGA of paying players? From a fan of a school with a CURRENT history of probation. Come on dude, you’re better than that.
DawginLex
November 28th, 2011
2:55 pm
5150 UOAD
November 28th, 2011
2:39 pm
How MUCH will UGa pay to get O. Charles to come back for his senior year?
ANSWER
1 year tuition and room and board
Next question?
Ric Flair
November 28th, 2011
2:56 pm
Me thinks the SC Tech Fan forgot to take his/her hormones! We you can’t argue your team, you start on spelling? Wrong Site. This one is about football, which explains your frustration!Whooooooooooooooooooooooo!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Ric Flair
November 28th, 2011
2:57 pm
DawglinLex can walk tha walk Brother!!! Whoooooooooooooooo!!!!!!!!
juvenal
November 28th, 2011
2:58 pm
not enough students to make any noise……and i did not think CPJ would be 1-3……….headly, i imagine Super is quite depressed…this was the most polite atmosphere of any GT-UGA game i’ve ever been to…..
Jacket Man
November 28th, 2011
2:58 pm
There’s an old saying that goes something like this: ” Win with class and lose with class”. It seemed as though both coaches and teams were able to follow this philosophy; it’s a shame the fans can’t follow suit.
Best of luck to UGA Saturday against LSU. JM
UGA spotted VaTech about 24 points not long ago n the Chic Fil A
November 28th, 2011
3:02 pm
UGA opened up stumbling vs Va Tech in the Chic Fil A Bowl about 4 or 5 years ago and UGA stormed back and the blew them out.
ACC is a lousy league. GT is in that lousy league and AGAIN LOST TO UGA for the 10th thime in 11 years and we all KNOW that “CMR is horrible and UGA is lousy” Right???
CPJ IS ON THE COACHING HOT SEAT. No ACC titles, no bowl wins and lately no nothing BUT LOTS OF PROBATION. Even hCPJ’s marque win was Clemson and nothing SEC EAST RUNNERUP SC STOMPED CLEMSON.
@The Truth
November 28th, 2011
3:08 pm
“One thing you can always count on….UGA fans have no class.”
Yeah, like those paragons of “class” MoronSittingOnaBarStool and 5150 TOAD….
5150 UOAD
November 28th, 2011
3:08 pm
DiLex do you think Charles will come back? I don’t know. I said that at the start of the year. If he does real well he will be a 1st rounder. He has a lot to think about for sure.
The talking heads have already been saying Murray will be the Top 5 QB in the Country next year. He is good, but he still has NO Signature Win much less WINS. To me he isn’t better than the Kid at Tennessee BRAY or USC Connor Shaw. Murray has more talent around him than Bray. He has about the same as Shaw. Murray needs to BEAT a better than average team to be a top 5 QB. IMO
TampaDawg
November 28th, 2011
3:17 pm
5150, at this point, to say that Shaw is better or even as good as Murray makes no sense. Bray, maybe but that kid as good as he is can be just as bad. Talent alone can’t read a defense. As for Murray getting “signature wins” (won’t even discuss the “much less WINS” line since he could end up with 10-12 wins this year), he played who he played this year. He is still a sophomore and has gotten SO much better from game 1 to game 12. Keep in mind, Matt Stafford ran an offense that lost a few games that many believe he should have won, including 2008 to GT. Look at him now. He has the Lions looking like a playoff team.
DawginLex
November 28th, 2011
3:19 pm
Murray is light years better than Bray or shaw. There is a reason Spurrier changed his offense. shaw can’t pass downfield like Murray can. Bray has zero wins of any kind, much less signature.
I think Orson comes back
Stinger 2
November 28th, 2011
3:21 pm
headley lamar: I have read your previous post on this blog.
Now do you have anything at all to say that could be
considered significant, important, revelant or sensible?
juvenal
November 28th, 2011
3:26 pm
congrats, Lex & Tampa, your DC & OC seem to be growing into their jobs……having a good year hunting, will take out frustrations on bambi, no refs or teammates or fans, just me & the deer….
GT FAN IN PA
November 28th, 2011
3:26 pm
Lex- I think the game this Saturday will determine if Orson comes back or not win or lose if he has good numbers against LSU I think his stock will rise and that will be the deciding factor for him. My opinion of course. On TV don’t know if you saw or not but he was one of 3 TE’s listed as the top this year.
carolinajacket
November 28th, 2011
3:31 pm
Just to get our hopes up a little for next year. How many DAWGS will probably leave early this year? It would help if Orson goes, but will any others?
A2k
November 28th, 2011
3:37 pm
I really like Sims, but the lack of a punishing B-Back was really hurting our rushing options this year against better/faster D lines. There were many times we got 0-2 yards on a dive that used to get us 5-7. I am hoping someone steps up or is recruited to fill that role.
The D was playing flat and behind receivers in this game as well as the VT game. I understand we don’t want to give up big play YAC but how many times can the opposing team march down the field like that before an adjustment is made?
Always a Jacket
November 28th, 2011
3:38 pm
Ken
I think you can tell by comments that the Honeymoon is over for CPJ. 0-3 in bowls and 1-3 against UGA gets you on the hot seat, no matter how many times you beat Duke.
I sat next to UGA fans and everyone was very friendly. Tailgated with UGA friends for a while. Had a great time before the game and not too bad after the game, considering the poor performance by the jackets. There are classless fans on both sides and especially the ones hiding on these blogs.
It was clear that UGA has bigger, faster athletes on the field and they executed. Even if Tech had executed better, UGA would have won.
Tech needs to decide if we want to compete with the SEC schools and better ACC schools. If so, it starts with the administration and allowing SAs to take majors that are not engineering and management. Second, get a coach that can recruit. No 4 or 5 stars want a piece of TO offense. CPJ has failed miserably. Problems with the defense and special teams are too many to list.
Finally, I have been watching LSU all year & attended one game. If UGA can run the ball, they have a chance. This is unlikely as LSU D-line is not halfpint size like GT. LSU’s DBs are the best in the game. Throw a lot against LSU and UGA will surely lose. LSU’s QBs are not as good as Murray, but they have stable of running backs, all better than UGA RBs. LSU O-Line is going to push UGA 3 man front around. If UGA protects the ball, it may be close at halftime, but Les Miles will run it up in the second half.
Gorilla Biscuit
November 28th, 2011
3:39 pm
If this keeps up the Dawgs are going to have to pay GT to be one of our OOC opponents. Just like Buffalo or Florida Atlantic.
GT ATW
November 28th, 2011
3:48 pm
I’ll take 8-4 rebuilding this year, but let’s get a bowl win to build on for next year. All the smart butt Dawg fans on this blog need to forget about us and get ready for LSU on Saturday. If we had won the Coastal and beat the dogs, the last think I would be focused on right now is UGA.
Always a Jacket
November 28th, 2011
3:49 pm
Forgot to mention… heard one THWG from student section durning the Munson tribute. Agee, it was not appropriate. It was also asking for trouble doing a tribute to Munson at BD stadium. Who thought of that? Let’s do an Al Ciraldo tribute between the hedges next year. Also a bad idea.
blazerdawg
November 28th, 2011
3:52 pm
Congratulations GT on a hard fought game and, IMO, a successful season.
I would expect that 8-4 is about where most Tech fans thought they would be, but the bowl destination is a bummer. There must be a way to get into the Peach/Chick Bowl – they should not want a Clemson/Auburn rematch, but I would go to a GA Tech/Auburn game NYE.
The D secondary is better than I thought it would be and you have depth at QB next year. I would like to see the Bee’s rally to win their bowl game, and then overcome the support/attendance issues associated with the program. Hope you get off to a good start in 2012 and look forward to seeing y’all in Athens next season.
GT ATW
November 28th, 2011
3:57 pm
Blazerdawg—nice post, you’ve got class!
juvenal
November 28th, 2011
4:01 pm
Always, they get a degree that is mostly jocks & that will mean i won’t give another penny or second to them…….
TampaDawg
November 28th, 2011
4:09 pm
Always a Jacket
November 28th, 2011
3:49 pm
Forgot to mention… heard one THWG from student section durning the Munson tribute. Agee, it was not appropriate. It was also asking for trouble doing a tribute to Munson at BD stadium. Who thought of that? Let’s do an Al Ciraldo tribute between the hedges next year. Also a bad idea.
—————————
First off, I thought it was a classy move and I applaud the GT administration for putting it in there. Thinking it’s a bad move is just a way of saying that some people, whether UGA or GT can’t keep their heads together and stay classy long enough to let a moment of silence with a little audio pass to honor someone who has done so much and influenced so many in his field.