Georgia Tech-BYU date set
Greetings
Not exactly earth-shattering news, but BYU released its 2012 schedule, which includes its date with Georgia Tech, which gives us one more piece of the puzzle. That makes … two pieces. Well, three, assuming we also know the date of the Georgia game (Nov. 24), as well as the Virginia Tech Labor Day game.
BYU will play at Bobby Dodd Stadium Oct. 27. The game will be the ninth in a row for the Cougars; they’ll have their bye after the Tech game.
The ACC should be releasing the entire league schedule soon. Florida State’s search for an opponent to replace West Virginia likely slowed the process.
A couple thoughts:
1. I suspect Tech will play an FCS game five days after the Sept. 3 Labor Day game against Virginia Tech. There’s two ways to go about it, either have the bye week Sept. 8 or try to play on a short week (coming off a road game, no less) and take the bye later. Tech was contracted to play Middle Tennessee State Sept. 8, but I think will push it back to find a presumably safer opponent. I don’t think it will be Southeastern Louisiana, though, which was contracted to play Tech this season, I believe in the opening weekend of the season.
2. At some point, it wouldn’t surprise me if Tech pushes back or shelves its home-and-home with BYU altogether. They’re scheduled to play four games, beginning this fall. When Pitt and Syracuse officially join the ACC and the conference begins a nine-game league schedule, I’m not sure Tech will want to keep an 11th game against a high-level FBS opponent.
Associate AD Wayne Hogan said as much when I talked to him for a story about the ACC’s official addition of Pitt and Syracuse a couple weeks ago, that Tech would likely try to schedule one FCS team and an FBS team from a non-automatic qualifier conference, like Middle Tennessee State.
The possibility that the NCAA may raise the bar for bowl eligibility to seven games is further incentive.
3. One small repercussion is that the chances of Tech playing in the Chick-fil-A Kickoff game probably have become more unlikely. While fans would undoubtedly enjoy a schedule with 11 games against automatic-qualifier schools (the 11th of which would be a high-profile opponent), I’m thinking Paul Johnson may not share that enthusiasm.
4. Another thought for scheduling junkies, which came to mind when I was listening to the 790 the Zone last week when scheduling oracles Wes Durham and Tony Barnhart had Dan Radakovich on their “Barnhart & Durham” show.
Radakovich was saying that, when Pitt and Syracuse enter the league (my guess is 2013), he will seek to amend the scheduling quirk that has Virginia Tech, Georgia, Clemson and North Carolina all on the same road-home rotation.
Another piece of this is that the ACC teams will play five home league games one year and four the next, and that the league will try to ensure that one year the Atlantic has five home games and the next year the Coastal does to ensure some level of equity in the division races.
Anyway, it occurred to me that I’d think that Tech will try to see to it that Georgia is at home the years that Tech has the four home games in order to give the home schedule some balance. If it were the other way around, Tech would have to play the other two non-conference games at home just to get to six home games, which presumably gives a queasy feeling to anyone whose paycheck depends on ticket revenues.
I don’t know how much the annual South Carolina-Clemson/Florida-Florida State/Georgia-Tech games will be a factor in the scheduling process, but if so, it actually could work out favorably in that regard. Clemson and FSU play their rivals at home in even years, so the Atlantic could play its four home games in those years, allowing Clemson and FSU to bank the South Carolina and Florida games as their fifth home games, while Georgia could be Tech’s fifth home game in the odd years.
The one flaw (of presumably many) is that while this may suit the needs of three schools, it may be problematic for the 11 others. Wake Forest, for instance, in the middle of a season-ending home-and-home with Vanderbilt that they may want to extend. Wake is on the opposite cycle as Clemson and FSU, so they could be in the position of having six locked-in home games one year and four the other.
Anyway, food for thought.
Ken Sugiura, Georgia Tech blog
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208 comments Add your comment
Supersize that order, mutt
February 14th, 2012
4:12 pm
George, I didn’t say that I BUY that argument, but it IS a fact.
Ghost
February 14th, 2012
4:13 pm
George, How is the leg ? The ACC has been down now for several years, only ACC school that has managed to break into final top 10 has been VT.
HighTech
February 14th, 2012
4:13 pm
Supersize…Sounds to me like Really? is hungry for pizza and hot dogs. Maybe she has weight issues, too.
George Stein
February 14th, 2012
4:15 pm
I was there, too, Supersize. The only thing longer than the game was the miserable drive home.
@Really
February 14th, 2012
4:15 pm
Will it be pepperoni pizza?
collegeballfan
February 14th, 2012
4:16 pm
“BYU is from a non-AQ Conference, how can they be considered a “high-level FBS opponent”?”
See UGA vs Boise.
Ghost
February 14th, 2012
4:17 pm
Super, Don’t you think that PJ misses on way too many targeted recruits to use the expression he’s “recruiting for his system”? That expression gives the impression he is signing his top targets.
George Stein
February 14th, 2012
4:17 pm
I’m up and about, Ghost. They removed all the packing last week and I’ve been back at the office now for six days. Thanks for asking.
The ACC is down, but it isn’t as down as people like to think. To be reasonable, though, we need our bell cows – FSU, Miami, Clemson – to pull their weight.
FL Jacket
February 14th, 2012
4:17 pm
Ghost…
Obviously knowing as much as you think you do about Tech…the CCG recruiting classes of 2006 and 2008 were terrible prior to CPJ arriving. So the fact that he won with CCG’s players is an indication of how well he can coach good players…and mediocre ones as well.
And besides, he wins more games with Gailey’s players (8.5 wins per year) that Gailey won with Gailey’s players (7 wins per year).
HighTech
February 14th, 2012
4:18 pm
collegeballfan…UGA is from an AQ conference. I don’t know why they were not considered a high level FBS opponent for Boise.
FL Jacket
February 14th, 2012
4:18 pm
Ghost…
Which targeted recruits?
George Stein
February 14th, 2012
4:18 pm
I don’t think he’s missed on too many on offense, Ghost. But there’s no question we need playmakers on defense. I’ve grown weary of hearing about communication issues, etc.
If the players aren’t good enough, I’m OK with that. But he needs to tell us that.
George Stein
February 14th, 2012
4:23 pm
As an aside, Ghost, UGA counts the years they tied for the division among their titles.
http://blogs.ajc.com/uga-sports-blog/2011/11/22/georgia-heads-into-tech-staring-at-major-tailback-dilemma/?cp=2
Who
February 14th, 2012
4:24 pm
is going to be the NT next year? How deep is Tech at that position?
Stinger 2
February 14th, 2012
4:26 pm
GTBob and Really? need to move on. They are the most annoying people who post on the AJC blogs. The have nothing meaningful to say. They are pitiful.
FL Jacket
February 14th, 2012
4:27 pm
Who…
1) TJ Barnes (Sr)…6′7″ 347 but slow off the snap
2) Shawn Green (r-So)…6′1″ 290
3) open but likely Pat Gamble (Fr) if he’s ready to play right away
Well,
February 14th, 2012
4:34 pm
I hope Barnes can step it up a notch next year. I’m not familiar with Green (I’ll have to check). I remember Gamble from Carrollton (I think he will be a pleasant surprise for Tech).
Ghost
February 14th, 2012
4:36 pm
Fl jacket, I am native atlantan, my mother and B Dodds daughter were best friends, I grew up around tech football and have always followed them. 1 Gailey was recruiting while on probation in 2006,You may not want to give Chan his due but he played in the ACC championship game in 2006 came off of probation and kept the momentum going with a very good 2007 class, the 2008 recruitng class was hampered by the Gailey uncertain future, lest you forget Sean Renfree was committed to tech before gaileys departure. I can’t list them all , but here are a few. C. Conley, JS Wesley, all of the highest rated rb s from the state this past 2012 recruiting class, Tuitt, Tomlinson, Nick Marshall , do you honestly think Pj not offering the top talent? I never said I thought he was stupid when it comes to recruiting .He’s offering most of the same players everyone else does he just doesn’t sign them.
FL Jacket
February 14th, 2012
4:36 pm
Losing Denzel McCoy for medical reasons really hurt our depth in that position, and JC Lanier didn’t pan out on defense and got switched to offense. We really need this crop of D-Lineman (Kallon, Gamble, Chungong, Gotsis) to develop into good players.
Supersize that order, mutt
February 14th, 2012
4:37 pm
I’m not sure which “targeted” players Johnson hasn’t got. He lost 2 commits this year and one probably, plus Junior G, who apparently didn’t qualify. Who were those “targets” that he lost?
Supersize that order, mutt
February 14th, 2012
4:39 pm
The 2007 VT game in Atlanta was what did it for me with Gailey. That was the second worst-coached game I have ever seen a Tech team play, and there was no excuse for that loss either.
George Stein
February 14th, 2012
4:42 pm
That was the same game that did it for me, too, Supersize. Watching us get throttled – again – on a cold Thursday night was it. I did feel badly for him getting booed on the Jumbotron, though.
Until then, I always had hope he could do it because he’d shown flashes throughout his six seasons.
FL Jacket
February 14th, 2012
4:43 pm
Ghost…
I’m not beneath giving Chan his due…if he had recruited the QB position stronger (the years prior to Nesbitt in 2007 and Renfree in 2008) and gave Reggie Ball some competition things might have turned out differently.
But knowing Tech as much as you seem to do, I don’t see how you can’t agree that CPJ’s style and the challenges of coaching at Tech (dictated by the President and AD) don’t align extremely well for fielding competitive football teams and graduating kids?
As much as I enjoyed CGO, he saddled us with lots of PR and academic issues that I hope we never have to deal with again…
I should mention
February 14th, 2012
4:51 pm
that Tech season tickets are reasonably priced and ALL Tech fans are encouraged to take advantage of the bargain and get out and support our team!
Ghost
February 14th, 2012
4:51 pm
Super , I will just use this as an example, do you think in 2011 that Greene was Pjs number 1 target for WR? Do you suppose JS Wesley or Chris Conley would have signed with Tech they would have his roster spot? Would he have signed James Wilder or Zach Laskey?
Supersize that order, mutt
February 14th, 2012
4:53 pm
FL Jacket, how have we not been competitive? Other than the LSU loss and one of the Miami losses, what games have we not at least been competitive in under Johnson? I’m not saying that just being competitive is all that matters—winning is what matters—-, but you said his style doesn’t align well for fielding competitive teams
crackbaby
February 14th, 2012
4:54 pm
Ken,
What if the ACC moved Wake to the Coastal Division. Another team would have to move back to the Atlantic – NC State? Duke? Maryland?
George Stein
February 14th, 2012
4:54 pm
How do we know the result would have been different if we had another offense or coach, though, Ghost?
I posed the question on Carvell’s blog earlier today, and to a man, each UGA fan said, when asked if players went to UGA because of Richt or because UGA recruits itself, they chose the latter. I bet if we switched head coaches, the recruiting results wouldn’t change.
Supersize that order, mutt
February 14th, 2012
4:55 pm
Ghost, you used the word “think.” Honestly, I have no idea whom Johnson has or might have targeted over the past few years. Did Johnson make an offer to Greene? I don’t know if he did or not.
George Stein
February 14th, 2012
4:55 pm
The UNC game his first year was an ass-kicking, Supersize, and I thought the UGA game last year was never really close in the second half.
George Stein
February 14th, 2012
4:58 pm
Clemson in 2010 was also a beatdown.
Supersize that order, mutt
February 14th, 2012
4:58 pm
George, you are undoubtedly right there. At least for now, UGA recruits almost solely on name. Tech once did the same. Tech still COULD be doing that had it not been for a string of bad coaches after Dodd retired. Bad coaches diminish the name value of any school, except for maybe Notre Dame.
FL Jacket
February 14th, 2012
4:58 pm
“FL Jacket, how have we not been competitive? Other than the LSU loss and one of the Miami losses, what games have we not at least been competitive in under Johnson? I’m not saying that just being competitive is all that matters—winning is what matters—-, but you said his style doesn’t align well for fielding competitive teams”
Supersize…on the contrary, it aligns very well. Pardon my double-negatives.
dawgfan
February 14th, 2012
4:59 pm
1-3 vs. UGA. 1-3 vs. VT. 0-4 in bowl games (only one of which was against a ranked team). I’d go over your records against other teams but you don’t play anybody else worth a damn beyond those three games.
Yes Techies, Paul Johnson is clearly a genius that does “more with less.” You should go ahead and build the statue and name the stadium after him. I need a good laugh. Please keep him around forever.
Georgia Tech=JOKE.
George Stein
February 14th, 2012
5:00 pm
I disagree completely, Supersize. Florida never had problems getting players when the Zooker was there. Bama was in the wilderness for most of the past 20 years but never had trouble getting players.
I think players will go schools because of the schools. Hell, if I was being recruited by UGA and they took me for a stroll down Lumpkin Ave during Rush, I’d have a hard time saying no.
Supersize that order, mutt
February 14th, 2012
5:00 pm
George, I don’t remember the 2008 UNC game and guess I had forgotten about the 2010 Clemson game. You might also include the Iowa game, but we were still in it with 6 minutes left…..IF Nesbitt could have hit the side of a barn. You are right about the second half of the 2011 UGA game, but I still wouldn’t call it a beatdown; after all it very easily COULD have been worse, but wasn’t, regardless of the reason.
George Stein
February 14th, 2012
5:00 pm
Troll hard, dawgfan.
Supersize that order, mutt
February 14th, 2012
5:01 pm
George, Florida only had one bad coach. Tech has had several—–WAY TOO MANY. You’re right about Bama though; they survived that 20 year wilderness.
Ghost
February 14th, 2012
5:01 pm
Fl Jacket,
I think you hit the nail on the head . PJs style is more of a problem than getting qualified better football players. Although most don’t realize their opportunities are limited many of the 4 and 5 star players think they have a chance or dream of playing in the NFL , Pjs style isn’t attractive to them. and quite honestly I haven’t seen Pj staff being great at player development.Not trying to flame just my perspective.
George Stein
February 14th, 2012
5:02 pm
The Iowa game was never out of hand. It was a touchdown game for most of the first half and then we closed to 17-14 before we threw that pick.
FL Jacket
February 14th, 2012
5:02 pm
dwagfan conveniently ignores Clemson…as do all haters that point out how bad CPJ is by pointing out ALL of his losses even though he wins roughly 2 out of every 3.
Supersize that order, mutt
February 14th, 2012
5:03 pm
George, remember too that Florida has probably never been able to recruit solely based on name. The Gators have had to rely on coaches more so than on team identity.
George Stein
February 14th, 2012
5:03 pm
They say Florida football began in 1990 for a reason, Supersize. They could pick a crummy coach with the best of ‘em.
GssiT
February 14th, 2012
5:04 pm
CPJ & ASS AD Hogan aren’t buying seaon tickets like we have for the last ten years. Like most GT alum and supportive fans, every home game is an away game for us. Five hours to ATL, Hotel, Food,etc and then five hrs home the next day, and you never know game time. We are not going to continue season tix with the likes of W. Car, Elon, MTS and others. Bring on the big boys & our problem is solved. Go, Jackets!
Supersize that order, mutt
February 14th, 2012
5:05 pm
George, in the Iowa game, I think that first penalty call against Tech that negated Dwyer’s TD changed the entire game. We were still “in it,” but it was never quite the same after that.
Ghost
February 14th, 2012
5:05 pm
Super , D Greene is on your roster , but I can tell you his odds of being there would have been greatly reduced is C. Conley or JS Wesley had signed with Tech?
Supersize that order, mutt
February 14th, 2012
5:06 pm
GssiT, don’t you think that other schools and their fans have the same problems??? Why do their fans put up with it, but Tech fans won’t?
indianman
February 14th, 2012
5:07 pm
georgia tech are your scared to play byu
FL Jacket
February 14th, 2012
5:07 pm
Ghost…
That’s fair…I just hope we’ll get a glimpse in the next few years of where guys like Stephen Hill, Omoregie Uzzi, Jeremiah Attaochu, Rod Sweeting, Louis Young, and others can accomplish at the next level.
I would argue player development and evaluation is one of his strengths…
Supersize that order, mutt
February 14th, 2012
5:07 pm
Ghost, sorry, I thought you meant that A.J. Greene (or is it Green) had been a “target” that Johnson didn’t get.