Live blog: Georgia Tech-Middle Tennessee State
Is there a hangover?
Georgia Tech has more margin for error against Middle Tennessee State than it would against an ACC opponent, but not so much that it can sleepwalk through Bobby Dodd Stadium and count on winning. A week after a crushing loss to Miami, the Yellow Jackets can show they’ve put it behind them and are ready to play their final eight regular-season games with a dominating effort against MTSU. A-back Orwin Smith said the team has finished its moping and is moving forward.
How does the defense handle the Blue Raiders?
After Miami played the Tech defense like a fiddle, the Jackets will play an offense of a different stripe. The Blue Raiders operate a spread offense that stretches defenses sideline to sideline. They also work without a huddle, which Miami used to give the Jackets problems last week. With MTSU quarterback Logan Kilgore often throwing short routes, it may be difficult for Tech to pressure him, so effective coverage and good tackling will be essential.
Will the backups get playing time?
Given that Tech was a 27.5-point favorite on Thursday and has beaten MTSU by a combined 56 points in the past two seasons, there is some expectation that the Jackets will win, and possibly handily. Should that prove to be the case, coach Paul Johnson will have the opportunity to stretch the legs of some second- and third-teamers for possibly the last time this season. Defensive linemen Anthony Williams and Adam Gotsis, inside linebacker Anthony Harrell, quarterback Vad Lee and guard Trey Braun could make cases for more playing time.
A win for Georgia Tech would …
Improve its record against teams with “Blue” in their nickname (Duke Blue Devils, Presbyterian Blue Hose and MTSU Blue Raiders) to 55-30-1.
A win for Middle Tennessee State would …
Be the third win this season for a Sun Belt Conference team against a BCS conference team (Louisiana-Monroe over Arkansas, Western Kentucky over Kentucky).
Matchup to watch
MTSU wide receiver Anthony Amos vs. Tech cornerback Rod Sweeting
Amos, a former walk-on, has caught 21 passes for 300 yards and three touchdowns in three games this season. He was added to the watch list for the Biletnikoff Award, given to the nation’s top wide receiver. Sweeting had a tough game against the Hurricanes and will have another challenge when lined up across from Amos.
The history book
Series record: Georgia Tech leads 2-0
Last meeting: Last September in Murfreesboro, Tenn., the Jackets scored on their first play from scrimmage, a 73-yard touchdown pass to Tony Zenon and led 28-0 in the second quarter on their way to a 49-21 win. Quarterback Tevin Washington completed five of eight passes for 202 yards and two touchdowns.
Tweet of the week
If Tech loses I’m transferring
@yaboynewt
Newt Clark, Tech student
Tell us what you think about the site
Customer Care »
Vacation stops, manage subscriptions and more
AJC Services
Sections
Other Editions
Visitor Agreement | Privacy Statement
© 2013 The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
774 comments Add your comment
Ms Susie Rottencrotch
September 29th, 2012
3:19 pm
Just WOW
Go Jackets
September 29th, 2012
3:19 pm
49-28……omg…..goin to Clemson @2-3.
That mediocre bowl attendance record is NOW in jeopardy.
Havent won one since 2004 i dont think. Correct me if I’m wrong.
Sean
September 29th, 2012
3:19 pm
Paul Hewitt of football.
Walmart Worker
September 29th, 2012
3:20 pm
Remember how the ajc wrote that Paul Johnson was a better coach than Mark Richt? Bahahahahahahahahahaha
GSUStud
September 29th, 2012
3:20 pm
I hate to so I told you so. I said if Middle Tenn State wins, it would not be an upset. The best team won today. The Jackets just gave up today.
Tim
September 29th, 2012
3:20 pm
We just lost by 3 touchdowns to a team who was beaten by McNeese State. Can anyone here tell me why Coach Johnson and his staff should not be fired? We have descended into embarrassing mediocrity.
Makes luv to dawgs
September 29th, 2012
3:20 pm
Dar lets go dargs!! me like sniffing butts and hooking up with me cuzin! Hopes weez beats tennessee so i can kiss me cuzin again
45ACP
September 29th, 2012
3:20 pm
The Joke by Coke.
hit a single
September 29th, 2012
3:20 pm
Paul Johnson needs kids with class and discipline. I hope he comes back to the Naval Academy. Those players care. This Tech team is a bunch of prima donas that haven’t accomplished much.
Sean
September 29th, 2012
3:20 pm
Where’s that idiot supersize that order? He said 11 wins! Bwaahahahahaha
trey
September 29th, 2012
3:21 pm
What happened girls?
How ’bout them Blue Raiders!
lmao
GT 65
September 29th, 2012
3:21 pm
USMC Dawg..Thanks for your service..
BehindEnemyLines
September 29th, 2012
3:21 pm
Gutless frauds masquerading as football players. Senile old fools and insufferably incompetent frauds masquerading as football coaches. And if any of them have jobs come Monday, a moron with the wrong priorities as an athletic director. Should have saved the Thrillerdome and used the cash to buy out these worthless hacks.
North Ave Killer Beez
September 29th, 2012
3:21 pm
Like I said NAPOLEAN DYNAMITE, TW is super slow and funnier & funnier the more I watch, LOL What a joke!!
USMC Dawg
September 29th, 2012
3:21 pm
This obviously falls on Coach Paul Johnson. Curious to see what he says in the post game interview.
JustinSyder
September 29th, 2012
3:21 pm
I can’t even imagine what’s gonna happen next week at Clemson.
Highly Respected Southern Troll
September 29th, 2012
3:21 pm
Is it just me or is Johnson’s play-calling erratic in tight situations? Passes on 3rd and 3, then runs on 4th and 3? Then goes right back to throwing with no run mix on 1st down?
dawgs01
September 29th, 2012
3:22 pm
Come on tech this is a tough loss. With the athletes in this state and the state of Florida, Tech and UGA should be in the top 10 every yr. i dont care about how hard it is to get into Tech. I can name kids from this state that are all over the united states in tough schools like the linebackers James Vaughters at Stanford two yr starter out of the atlanta area and vandy has a few four stars and there are kids in this state that can play that are smart.
hit a single
September 29th, 2012
3:22 pm
Ralph Fridgen to Tech, Johnson to the Naval Acacdemy and they meet in Boise Idaho Bowl game and Naval Academy wins 42 to 41. Go Midshipmen!
Ghost
September 29th, 2012
3:22 pm
Tough loss for tech, GT can do better than PJ.
If do right, no can defense
September 29th, 2012
3:22 pm
Oh well, season can’t get any worse now, can it? Second home loss in a row since the late 80s. To Middle Tenn State. I hope we can muster one more win from here on out… Duke looks tough, but possible. 3-9 would definitely result in Groh getting fired and CPJ on the hot seat.
Nice passing today… too bad there was no protection. Go jackets.
lindseysnot
September 29th, 2012
3:22 pm
@jackthompson – so that idiots like you can sit wayyyy away from everybody else.
this is the beginning of the end for cpj…no one will forget this, i don’t care WHO he fires.
Sean
September 29th, 2012
3:23 pm
At least the losing bowl streak will finally end! LOLOLOL
Tech is Wrecked
September 29th, 2012
3:23 pm
Seeing the posts here I don’t want to see any Dawg fans griping about Techies posting to “their” blogs.
That being said I want to point out to Tech fans that Publix still offers paper bags as an option….
collegeballfan
September 29th, 2012
3:23 pm
MTSU played GT really well. They were much the better team.
It comes down to recruiting and GT recruits today as it has for the past 50 years. Not very well.
Record for GT the past 52 years – 328 – 266 – 10.
Panther
September 29th, 2012
3:23 pm
Thank God for the Jackets…. Hey Paul, come to GSU!!!!!!
smitty
September 29th, 2012
3:23 pm
witnessing the beginning of the end of the PJ regime with todays shellacking from MT……defense a letdown as usual and the one dimensional option offense not suited for a passing attack needed in a comeback…….cant continue to depend on outscoring the other team over a long season unless of course the option is executed perfectly, an unlikely scenario………..this team overall lacking in fundamentals…….incredibly poor tackling, poor blocking, poor pass protection, poor pass catching, just about poor everything……..an already long season is about to get really long……….have a nice day……
DawgNole
September 29th, 2012
3:23 pm
Big Ol Stinger
September 29th, 2012
3:03 pm
You’re right DawgNole. That post was before the last MTSU score. It’s over. Embarrasing, that’s all I can say.
Good luck to both of your teams. I wish GT could play football. Maybe again one of these years.
___________________
Thanks, Stinger. I hate that this has happened to Tech. I always want that post-Thanksgiving game to pit two highly ranked teams. Not gonna happen this year, obviously.
USMC Dawg
September 29th, 2012
3:23 pm
“USMC Dawg..Thanks for your service..” GT 65
Thank You Sir! I appreciate that. I just wish UGA and GT fans could show a little(LOT) more class on the blogs.
Good luck next week at Clemson.
Walmart Worker
September 29th, 2012
3:23 pm
Wonder if Paul Johnson and Al Groh will be working with me soon? Bahahahahahahha
hit a single
September 29th, 2012
3:24 pm
Ghost – who would want to come to Tech. A place that depended on the Olympics to upgrade their facilities.
Tech93
September 29th, 2012
3:24 pm
Another terrible showing. How long can you keep Al Groh for? We would be better not even having a Defensive Coordinator at this point. CPJ is not much better.
lindseysnot
September 29th, 2012
3:25 pm
@45acpee , geez, you think that one up all by yerself?? another dwag genius. go on back to your board now and hang out w/the rest of the leghumpers and butt sniffers.
PLAYMAKER
September 29th, 2012
3:25 pm
NO because you question recruiting, AL Groh’s defense, substitutions or lack of,, CPJ and CAG and some fans slander you, say you don’t know what you are talking about! This program doesn’t have to be this bad! Recruiting doesn’t have to be this bad, especially in this State! Go get a budding star right now Giff Smith and make him D. Coor., get Joe Hamilton to replace some of CPJ yes men. Let Coach Walk have more juice on defense. Junk the 3-4 and please CPJ humble yourself. You won with Gailey recruits, you are good but you need help, not just yes men. If you humble yourself instead of you and Groh ignoring and trying to bully everyone you will win!
OldSchoolTechFanatic
September 29th, 2012
3:26 pm
I just told my wife GT lost and she thought I was lying !!! She really thought I was lying. How far we have fallen !!!
Big T
September 29th, 2012
3:26 pm
I have bought my last ticket … time for a change.
Go Jackets
September 29th, 2012
3:26 pm
For those of you that think we have talent on D, I offer one No. 6., Mr Rod Sweeting….BURNED for winning TD’s in EVERY game but yet he continues to start. For those of you that think we have talent on O, I offer one Vad Lee. A heralded recruit who cant beat out a D2 QB as a redshirt soph. jackets recruiting well………REALLY?
Ms Susie Rottencrotch
September 29th, 2012
3:26 pm
Bobby Patrino is available and would love to return to Atlanta
RamblingReck
September 29th, 2012
3:26 pm
So obviously the defensive effort last week was not an abberation.
BringBackPepper
September 29th, 2012
3:27 pm
The AD needs to get off his ass and fire Johnson and Groh before Clempsum. Why wait? It ain’t getting any better. Pass out the brown paper bags … the Jack-Aints are back. What an embarrassment. I may even root for the Dawgs today. Disgusting.
TechLB
September 29th, 2012
3:27 pm
No athletes folks, we compete with Marshall and Furman for recruits…the ratings don’t matter remember? I am and always will be a Tech fan but so discouraging.
S
September 29th, 2012
3:27 pm
If you fired womack for bad games against uga, then what happens to a horrid game against middle tennessee???
GTpack
September 29th, 2012
3:28 pm
Disgusting!! The experiment is over, time to start over again with a whole new staff. We have barely FCS level players that get whipped constantly by descent football teams.
DRad needs to pull out his short list of coaches and start thinking about who. If we don’t have the money, then it is time to pass the collection plate.
Our players got whipped on both sides of the ball. No one can defend Johnson or Groah for this debacle.
No recruits = loss to MTSU.
bomber2
September 29th, 2012
3:28 pm
Why would DR keep this staff of IDIOTS after the season is completed / keep the boycott going stay away from home games. Fire AG now damn he’s lost & so is the defense they don’t know who to cover. Vinny Cunningham looked like Herschal Walker /MT came to kick GT ass & they did good game guys.
drew
September 29th, 2012
3:28 pm
I’m a Tech fan, but I found myself pulling for MTS around the third quarter. Tech needs a total house cleaning, and maybe this will be the start of it.
I’d rather go 1-10 for a couple of years with the HOPE of maybe being good again someday, than 7-6 every year with the knowledge that we will NEVER be more than average.
The defense sucks. The offense can’t do anything when it HAS TO.
DawgNole
September 29th, 2012
3:28 pm
Tech Student
September 29th, 2012
3:09 pm
I don’t understand why all this trash from UGA is on here talking about how much better they are at football. Congratulations, its true, nobody denies it. We know we aren’t going to beat you in football. We have a fake coach, a fake offense, and an imaginary D. Unfortunately, because our joke degree for athletes is business administration (your claim to fame) we will never recruit top players and we will never have a great football team.
_____________________
“Nobody denies it”? Unfortunately, you have plenty on here who deny it, and it’s that sort of denial that draws the trash-talkers.
hit a single
September 29th, 2012
3:28 pm
Tech needed this. The whole outfit it so arrogant. Fans, Coaching staff and definitely the players. Sissy Uniforms top it off. Get back down to earth, recruit heart, guts, talent and coach like you are not God and it will get better.
GTVegas
September 29th, 2012
3:28 pm
What burns me most is that I now must agree with everything WnE has written.
USMC Dawg
September 29th, 2012
3:28 pm
I hope the kids don’t quit on Paul Johnson. That would be a shame.
Hopefully GT can pull itself up by the bootstraps and end the season on a positive note(except for the UGA game of course). Then get a new DEFENSIVE COORDINATOR.
When your defense struggles as badly as Tech’s, it starts to effect the offense.
Can you believe it?
September 29th, 2012
3:29 pm
That clown The Real Yellowjacket is so despondent he is ignoring the mess that is GT and trying (unsuccessfully) to denigrate UGA – how sad.
Glad I taped the game so I can watch GT get humiliated over and over and over.