Tech in talks with ACC for Labor Day game
Georgia Tech is in discussions with the ACC to play in its nationally televised Labor Day night game, though chances do not appear good.
“We’re moderately interested in it, not crazy about it, but it’s got some interest to us,” associate athletic director Wayne Hogan said Tuesday. “It’s just a question of what makes sense.”
The league has interest in moving Tech’s game against Virginia Tech to that Sept. 3 date, Hogan said. The winner of that game has represented the Coastal Division in the ACC title game in each of the past seven seasons. The game would give the Yellow Jackets a national platform on a day and time slot in which it would have little, if any, competition.
However, Tech’s preference would be to not play Virginia Tech or any other Coastal Division team in that opening-week spot. Tech’s philosophy in recent years has been to play an FCS team in its opener as opposed to a more meaningful league game. For a Labor Day game to happen, the school would have to agree to it. Tech is scheduled to play Middle Tennessee State Sept. 8 and likely would want to move that game to avoid playing on a short week.
Miami and Maryland, who played on Labor Day in 2011, both had a bye week following their game. That game was the first of the ACC’s Labor Day games, part of the league’s 12-year contract with ESPN.
If a matchup with Virginia Tech or another Coastal team is in fact a deal breaker, that would leave Clemson, Maryland and Boston College, Tech’s Atlantic Division opponents in 2012. Only a matchup with Clemson would seem to have broad appeal – Maryland and Boston College were a combined 6-18 in 2011 – but the Tigers are scheduled to play Auburn in the Chick-fil-A Kickoff Game earlier that weekend at the Georgia Dome.
The ACC schedule is due to be released in early February.
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171 comments Add your comment
George Stein
January 18th, 2012
11:21 am
I was unaware the AJC was operated by the government, CDS.
Wait, it isn’t? Oh, then it INS’T CENSORSHIP.
CDS
January 18th, 2012
11:31 am
Exactly Tom. I also laugh that his linkedin page now no longer shows where he graduated from college. Hmmm
5150 UOAD
January 18th, 2012
11:33 am
TOM said the TRUTH in that post. HAHAHAH
CDS
January 18th, 2012
11:34 am
Hey georgie nice reading comprehension.
George Stein = Michael Carvell posting under false alias.
I guess it’s a slow day eh? Go find a uga pump story loser.
5150 UOAD
January 18th, 2012
11:35 am
George Stein you might not agree with CDS but TOM did spell it out pretty well what CDS means.
I'm a CBG fan
January 18th, 2012
11:35 am
The game is in Blacksburg – forget that!
Jeff
January 18th, 2012
11:37 am
Look, I think it is a good idea. If they win then there is an instant spotlight on the team and a high ranking. If they lose, they have the rest of the season to climb back. An early loss will hurt the rankings less in the beginning of the season vs late. UGA tried it with a then 5th ranked Boise, they lost but bounced back. The difference is GT HAS to play VT anyway, get it out of the way. My only concern is the time to prepare for GT issue and they would have an entire summer to do it. Still take the risk, gamblers never win always playing it safe.
My new Bar B Q grill
January 18th, 2012
11:49 am
By Labor Day my 2011 Christmas present from the kids will be just about broken in nicely. Why on earth would I leave that for some ACC game between Va Tech and GT?
The stadium will reflect the fact that maybe everybody received grills like mine, because it will be only 60% full.
Pass on this game and pass the Q sauce.
Just an idea .......
January 18th, 2012
11:52 am
Maybe Tech rents BDS@HGF and allows LSU or Alabama or even lowly UGA or SC or Florida to play VaTech or to play NC or play FSU or Miami ………………….. THEN and only then, would that game be of interest outside of Fulton County. Only then would that stadium be near capacity seating.
DawginSewer
January 18th, 2012
11:53 am
Coach has us playinsgs Valdusta that weekend.
Darn, I woulds likes to got their.
CDS
January 18th, 2012
11:54 am
VT in opening games since 07
07 Beat E carolina 17-7
08 Lost E Carolina 27-22
09 Alabama lost 34-24
10 Lost to boise 33-30 and James madison the next week
11 Beat App state 66-13
I would go for it. Probably got a better shot at beating them early than on a Nov Thursday
1 4 GT
January 18th, 2012
11:59 am
Yeah Freddie. I had kinda forgotten about having to keep my hands up in the middle of my chest. If I extended my arms/hands=a holding call, every time. They sure do coddle the WE’s, RB’s & QB’s today, huh?
Rick James
January 18th, 2012
12:00 pm
@Just an idea …….
I like that but Virginia Tech playing any of the mentioned SEC teams would have to be moved to the Georgia Dome and would sell out.
Kyle
January 18th, 2012
12:02 pm
Doesnt VT usually start off very slow, even lost to teams like James Madison in the first few weeks of the season. Might be best to get them early when we would have a better shot at taking them down. CPJ hasn’t done so well against them to this point…
northern neighbor
January 18th, 2012
12:11 pm
I like playing VT early. It’s better to find out early in the season if you are any good rather than go 6-0, build false hope, and lose 5 of the last 7 games.
Tech Fan Since 1950
January 18th, 2012
12:16 pm
Can we find a way to finally tackle that big and tall VT quarterback? Maybe tackling around the toenails? I wish the game was in Atlanta, but Tech has done well in recent history at the start of the season with big games on the road. There was no better experience than seeing the Jackets beat Notre Dame at the start of the season in 2007. No risk, no gain. Tech needs to take some risks. I say, let’s do it!
Ronald 1981-1988
January 18th, 2012
12:25 pm
“It’s just a question of what makes sense.” Well duh! We use to do this every year but start with cream puffs under Johnson. It’s time to man up and play big time on the big stage. Make it happen Hogan!
SKEPTICAL OBSERVER
January 18th, 2012
12:34 pm
Of course, many teams don’t have a problem with the Tech Offense – given extra time to prepare…
UOAD = Ugly Old-Ass Dog
5150 UOAD
January 18th, 2012
12:39 pm
SKEPTICAL OBSERVER………….well you got the Dwag part correct.
Rick James shouldn’t you be on the recruiting blog abusing and taking abuse from BAMA?
M. B.
January 18th, 2012
12:48 pm
Played N.C. State first in ‘90, and Penn State first in ‘91. Those years turned out pretty good. 11-0-1 and 8-5-0.
Born2Buzz
January 18th, 2012
12:48 pm
Ken, was there any mention of where the game would be played? Would it still be in Bleaksburg or would they move it to DC? Either way, we should not shy away from this. I agree with what Stokan said about making the preseason practices that much more intense. We need to step up and play big boy football and that means taking on challenges like this.
And all you naysayers, next year is going to be a good year. Say hello to the Vad Lee era! And our D will be markedly better. You heard it here first.
GT21
January 18th, 2012
1:03 pm
Lets do the damn thing!
ramblingbuzz
January 18th, 2012
1:22 pm
I like it. Can’t do much worse than we’ve done against VT the past 4 years. Bring it on!!
Al Bundy
January 18th, 2012
1:24 pm
I don’t think it matters when or where we play them, the outcome will be the same. I hate it for our guys but CPJ will be OUT COACHED and we lose. I can almost hear him now… We didn’t excute and they made some big plays and we didn’t.
Rick James
January 18th, 2012
1:34 pm
@5150 UOAD
Alabama fans abusing UGA doesnt bother me.They’re the BCS champs and better than Georgia.What’s the argument? Yet I’m sure that if this blog had been written about Georgia trying to delay a game with Alabama you would be abusing us,right? If Tech wants to play big boy football either do it or join Conference USA.
GT Dude
January 18th, 2012
1:45 pm
I like the idea, puts a buzz in the air all summer long…
Go for it Dan Rad!
Supersize that order, mutt
January 18th, 2012
1:55 pm
Some of you jerks seem to think this would be an extra game for both schools. The two Tech’s will play in Blacksburg at some point next year, whether it is on Labor Day or later in the season. Tech is not avoiding anything by not playing on Labor Day if that is the decision. I think there are pluses and minuses to both possible times. Since it will probably end up being an ESPN Thursday night game anyway, either time will be a national telecast. The problem, as I see it, is whether we can move the game already scheduled for the following Saturday so we don’t get stuck with a 4-day rest between games. If that can be worked out, then there should be no reason not to go for it, assuming VT also wants it.
JM
January 18th, 2012
2:11 pm
It might be easier to play with a short week if the Labor Day game was in Atlanta. But traveling back from Blacksburg late Monday would probably hurt Tuesday’s practice as well.
Supersize that order, mutt
January 18th, 2012
2:16 pm
@JM, True
realfan
January 18th, 2012
2:51 pm
Is Tech allowed to play game that is not on a Thursday night?
Patrick
January 18th, 2012
2:54 pm
Blog won’t allow a video link from their own website of the robbery attempt in athens by no doubt two uga felon fans? Nice
Stinger 2
January 18th, 2012
2:57 pm
Rick James, OakieDawg and , headley lamar are in a class by themselves. One difference is that OakieDawg`s handle sounds like it could be feminine. My point is they have propensity to never contribute anything of value.
bulldog steve
January 18th, 2012
3:05 pm
Tech will never play a tough game to start their season. Their offense only works when a team does not have much time to prepare. If a team had part of spring and beginning of fall practice to face that offense, Tech would get beat. Just like bowl games when teams have time to prepare.
Rick James
January 18th, 2012
3:07 pm
@Stinger 2
Of course what I say is of no value to you because I disagree with your opinions.My belief is that Georgia football is head and shoulders above Tech football and you dont like hearing it.I dont recall you contributing anything of value on UGA blogs.
5150 UOAD
January 18th, 2012
3:09 pm
bulldog steve and when has UGa made it a habit of playing a tough team to open the season?
OkieDawg
January 18th, 2012
3:11 pm
Stinger, thanks for that post. I found it to be extremely valuable. Thanks for your contribution.
MDubTheWiz
January 18th, 2012
3:16 pm
GA Tech really doesn’t want to get embarrassed on national TV. Hopefully, that game against Va Tech won’t be nationally televised.
5150 UOAD
January 18th, 2012
3:23 pm
MDubTheWiz…..I think we should make UGa play in a game on Labor Day. They were Great getting Embarrassed on national TV to start and finish last year. They have that trick down pat starting with 2 Ls and finishing with 2 Ls on national TV.
ChopChamps95
January 18th, 2012
3:34 pm
Hopefully, that game against Va Tech won’t be nationally televised.
————————————-
Always has been in the past and unless both teams take nose dives for years it always will be. Although the outcome sometimes aren’t always close, on paper and based tv audience appeal its one of the best ACC games year in and year out.
Brave Hokie
January 18th, 2012
3:37 pm
All for it… other than it will suck not exactly knowing what the game repercussions are so early in the season…
That said, even IF we win, we have a tough ACC road to go: @ scUM, @ Klempsun, @ UNC, F$U in Bburg
See y’all in the ‘burg.
Rick James
January 18th, 2012
3:37 pm
@OkieDawg
Nice!!
Teel Time: Virginia Tech more enthusiastic about possible Labor Day football … at sugarbowl.hoops227.us
January 18th, 2012
3:38 pm
[...] about it, but it’s got some interest to us,” associate athletic director Wayne Hogan told the Atlanta Journal-Constitution’s Ken Sugiura. “It’s just a question of what makes [...]
Tom
January 18th, 2012
3:44 pm
Tech wouldnt be trying to dodge Virginia Tech to play Armpit State would they?
Why would they want to play them in the first AND last games of the regular season?
I get it...........
January 18th, 2012
3:45 pm
GT will balk at playing a tough game right out of the chute. They need to build up those wins and amass huge RUNNING statistics early against other H.S. level teams if they hope to have any relevance in October and November.
It is obvious GT front loads their schedule with cupcakes to avoid early losses and the inevitable side into oblivion.
Stinger 2
January 18th, 2012
3:54 pm
Rick James: I have no problem with the opinion you just stated to the effect that UGA football is far better than GT. In head to head competition, the 10 of last 11 UGA wins does give creditability to your opinion.
My statement was in reference to your and other UGA fans
making statements that are trashing GT. To me these post are meaningless and are of no value except to get laughs
from your comrades. Carry on and have fun.I realize GT fans do the same on UGA blogs and I say they are also of no value to the subject at hand.
Teel Time: Virginia Tech more enthusiastic about possible Labor Day football opener than Georgia Tech at atlanta.hoops227.net
January 18th, 2012
4:10 pm
[...] about it, but it’s got some interest to us,” associate athletic director Wayne Hogan told the Atlanta Journal-Constitution’s Ken Sugiura. “It’s just a question of what makes [...]
5150 UOAD
January 18th, 2012
4:16 pm
I get it………..
January 18th, 2012
3:45 pm
GT will balk at playing a tough game right out of the chute. They need to build up those wins and amass huge RUNNING statistics early against other H.S. level teams
Now insert ??? and it is the same.
I get it………..UGa will balk at playing a tough game right out of the chute. They need to build up those wins and amass huge statistics early against other H.S. level teams to build up Murray’s Heisman campaign before the wheels fall off against good teams.
What would the Dwags be saying if they had their Original 2012 opening opponent?
Supersize that order, mutt
January 18th, 2012
4:43 pm
UGA balks at playing tough games at any time during the season, except on the years when they HAVE to play Bama or LSU. Conveniently for them, they dodged that bullet again next year.
OkieDawg
January 18th, 2012
4:50 pm
Super, This is a GT blog. If all you want to do is post comments about UGA, then go to the UGA blog. Stay on topic…Let’s talk the irrelavance of Tech.
Ramblin Man
January 18th, 2012
4:54 pm
Could be a good thing for GT as VT has often struggled in the begining of the season. Could also gets the players and coaches more amped for the season as earlier mentioned. I would also think GT would have an advantage in that no game film would be available for VT with Lee, Summers, Greene, Waller, and Bostic that would be helpful. Of course that would also mean freshman taking on a VT team that does usually have a good D. This I would think would boast ticket sales as not many cared to see the season opener last year.