UPDATED: Tech humbled by MTSU, 49-28
Georgia Tech did not need overtime to falter Saturday.
The Yellow Jackets, uninspired and perhaps still groggy from its second crushing overtime loss of the season a week ago, required only the regulation 60 minutes to capitulate. Tech was force-fed the worst loss of coach Paul Johnson’s five-year tenure, a 49-28 defeat to Middle Tennessee State at Bobby Dodd Stadium.
MTSU, an FBS school out of the Sun Belt Conference that has produced wins this season over Arkansas (by Louisiana-Monroe) and Kentucky (Western Kentucky), pounded the listless Jackets with 510 yards of offense, forced four turnovers and neutralized Tech with force and energy. On this day, at least, little doubt existed over the identity of the superior team.
“I told (MTSU) Coach (Rick) Stockstill after the game (that) they got after us, whipped our butt, and give them some credit, because they played hard,” Johnson said. “After saying that, it was embarrassing. I don’t think there’s any other way to describe it.”
Plenty of conditions for an upset congregated Saturday at Bobby Dodd – a tough loss the previous week, a noon start, key players sidelined with injuries (outside linebacker Jeremiah Attaochu and cornerback Louis Young), a half-filled stadium and a confident opponent eager for payback and arriving with two weeks’ rest.
Tech did the rest in falling to 2-3.
On the road, with fewer resources and fielding a roster full of players deemed unworthy of a scholarship to Tech, the Blue Raiders (3-1) steamrolled the Jackets. It was the sort of result that Johnson produced regularly at Navy, leading to his hire at Tech following the 2007 season. Johnson said it was probably the worst loss of his career.
“We didn’t throw the ball much,” MTSU guard Josh Walker, who overpowered Tech defensive linemen all afternoon, told the Daily News Journal of Murfreesboro, Tenn. “We didn’t have to. We were so physical, and we ran the football right at them. We were more physical than them, faster than them and in better shape than them.”
The Jackets’ start offered little hint of the waterfall that they were heading towards. Inside linebacker Jabari Hunt-Days intercepted MTSU quarterback Logan Kilgore on the game’s first possession, a turnover that Tech turned into the first of quarterback Tevin Washington’s four rushing touchdowns. Washington’s four ground scores tied a school single-game record and perhaps set a new standard for least cherished record.
Tech’s fabric disintegrated quickly after that. The Blue Raiders countered with a 75-yard touchdown drive, the first of three such drives in the half. None of them measured less than 75 yards and included a 60-yard score by MTSU running back Benny Cunningham in which he shot through a gap in the line and scored untouched.
Tied at 21 at halftime, the Jackets found themselves in a shootout with a team they had defeated by a combined 56 points in the past two seasons and were favored to beat by almost 30 points.
“We went down and scored after the defense gave us the ball,” Washington said. “After that, there wasn’t much life on the sideline or out there on the field. We just came out too flat [Saturday]. When you give another team energy and momentum, it’s hard to stop them once they get going.”
The Tech defense was again flattened, done in by its opponents’ play-calling and offensive line and its own slippery tackling attempts. Prior to the game, Johnson said he thought that last week’s play against Miami – 609 yards, 30 first downs, missed tackles galore – was an aberration. Nothing much looked different Saturday, save the colors of the opponents’ jerseys and the chants from the visiting fans that drowned out the home crowd.
“That’s probably as bad a tackling game as I have seen,” Johnson said.
There was no tackling on the Blue Raiders’ two longest scores of the game. No Jacket laid a hand on Cunningham on his 60-yard touchdown run on the first play of the second quarter or wide receiver Marcus Henry’s 75-yard scoring reception, also down the center of the field, in the third quarter.
MTSU’s ransacking ought to make McNeese State, Florida Atlantic and Memphis feel better. The Cowboys, Owls and Tigers all managed to keep the Blue Raiders under 500 yards in MTSU’s first three games. McNeese State, an FCS team, actually beat MTSU in the opener, 27-21.
The Jackets had a final opportunity in the fourth quarter trailing 35-28. After forcing a punt, Tech started a drive on its 17-yard line with 8:20 left in the game. Despite having been outplayed, a chance for a 14-point fourth-quarter comeback like the one that the Jackets had permitted last Saturday against Miami flickered in the afternoon light.
On a play-action pass on the first play from scrimmage, Washington heaved a pass downfield to wide receiver Jeff Greene around the MTSU 40-yard line. Greene couldn’t hang onto the slightly underthrown pass, which was intercepted by cornerback Kenneth Gilstrap and returned to the Tech 15-yard line. The Blue Raiders got into the end zone in four plays for a 42-28 advantage.
That was the end of the flickering.
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931 comments Add your comment
A Dooley leading GT...
September 30th, 2012
6:36 pm
…oops
Big Ol Stinger
September 30th, 2012
6:36 pm
Very, very, cute that time!
If you’d bother to read the posts, you’d know I’m no CPJ apologist.
And you’re still a chicken shi$, no Tech grad, and a teen age boy stalker.
I just don’t understand why you’re such a chicken shi&.
Thanks.
1 4 GT
September 30th, 2012
6:39 pm
There was an assistant coach for O’Leary that went to work for Mack Brown as OL assistant coach @ UTx. He was voted the number 1 assistant coach in the nation in 2008 by the American Football Coaches Association (or some similarly named organization). He was the interim GT head coach in the Seattle Bowl in 2001 against Stanford. After the O;Leary debacle with Notre Dame had played itself out. Mac McWhorter held that team together & won that bowl game 24-14. He made it known that he wanted the job permanently and lobbied hard for it. FWIW, I wanted him to have a chance. Even though Mac played @ Georgie. I figured he had earned a chance after pulling that team together & winning the Bowl. You know the team had to feel like O’Leary deserted them. But, the GIT powers that be probably couldn’t stomach the thoughts of a Georgie All American Grad being trusted to coach the Jackets against the Dwags. I have wondered how different things would be if Mac had gotten the job. He is 62 now @ still in coaching (I forget where). We’ll never know. He is too old to consider now. Too bad for him.
JB
September 30th, 2012
6:41 pm
Dooley was sledding uphill from Day one. His first year he did not have ONE single OL that had played a game, and the players left had developed the Lane Kiffen Attitude. He was hired because NO coach with ANY type of resume was willing to go near the place. He was call like 6 or 7. He’s being paid 12.5 million dollars to clean the wreck up. No way you win in the SEC from rock bottom in 3 years. Saban set the bat at Bama, and it’s really not fair. Dooley has done a pretty good job. Remember, he’s growing into the job himself. Tech could do worse……and after that rain wreck Saturday, they might have.
1 4 GT
September 30th, 2012
6:47 pm
FWIW….I’m not quite ready to cut all coaching ties & start over yet. But I am getting closer. But Groh must GO. ASAP. Or after the last game….makes no difference to me. I doubt he will have the integrity to resign. Not that anyone will consult with me anyway
JB
September 30th, 2012
6:48 pm
Money is a big issue now. Tech will never pay the 4-5 mil to hire the best. Georgia won’t either. After 12 years, Richt makes less than $3 mil, and he’s done OK. In the 2 mil range you get a Dooley or a up and coming assit. Roll the dice on a young stud. And No, Kirby Smart will NEVER be hired at Tech. He will end in maybe in Knoxville
Delbert D.
September 30th, 2012
6:53 pm
JB – I can’t imagine that Dooley’s job is in danger. I’ve watched 3 of their games this year, and the team looks much better than last year. If Bray sticks around and the defense is better next year, they ought to be really competitive.
I don’t think that Georgia Tech would hire another UVA grad, anyway.
Delbert D.
September 30th, 2012
7:02 pm
There may be a shortage of up and comers, but some of the openings will be recycles. Rumors on the national blogs are that Tuberville may be moving to Arkansas. My own guess on Petrino is that he gets hired in a mid-major conference; he’s risky, and he has to improve that image. Looks like Kentucky will be buying as well.
JB
September 30th, 2012
7:03 pm
Delbert…….Go to the Knoxville paper to “GoVolsExtra” and read the comments. Now, bloggers don’t fire coach’s, but they do buy tickets. They are restless and Derek has 2-3 more beat downs coming this year. We’ll see
JB
September 30th, 2012
7:06 pm
IF Tech was looking for a new Coach, I would take a flier on Manny Daiz, now DC at Texas, who was at Miss. St. He’s a sleeper.
JB
September 30th, 2012
7:06 pm
Diaz?
gt40pinhd
September 30th, 2012
7:09 pm
i am also wondering what happened to s days? put him at b back and vad at qb. we NEED some weight at b back!
USMC Dawg
September 30th, 2012
7:10 pm
I think Coach Mike Leach would have been a great fit for Tech.
It will certainly be interesting to see what happens with CPJ.
He has got to realize that he is not ONLY the Offensive Coordinator; he is the stinking HEAD Coach!
That means he is responsible for BOTH sides of the football of the football field;Offense AND DEFENSE. Tech is paying the money. Is Coach AL Groh the best choice you had?
-Georgia fan that wants to see GT do well (except that one game per year)
1 4 GT
September 30th, 2012
7:11 pm
I can’t see Petrino coming back to Atlanta. Maybe wrong, but I just don’t see it.
1 4 GT
September 30th, 2012
7:11 pm
Don’t know if I could support that slime ball.
1 4 GT
September 30th, 2012
7:15 pm
If they do make a wholesale change, I would hope they get someone with some kinda decent track record.
USMC Dawg
September 30th, 2012
7:19 pm
Bobby Petrino is NOT coming to GT. Great idea though. He is an EXCELLENT coach regardless of what you think of him.
I think TN will make a deal with the Devil and hire Petrino even though Dooley has come a long way with Old Rocky Top.
College Football is a BILLION dollar business and Bobby Petrino is the best coach on the sidelines right now.
Tennessee will hire Petrino.
gt40pinhd
September 30th, 2012
7:20 pm
unless things change radically, i think we’re stuck with al g. a 3-4 defense needs a strong and big nose tackle, of course, motivated would help….
GT1990
September 30th, 2012
7:21 pm
14GT-TW IS GARBAGE AND SO IS CPJ !
GT1990
September 30th, 2012
7:23 pm
I would like to see GT go get their guy and that is the HEAD COACH FOR THE ARIZONA CARDINALS!!!!!!!!!!!!
USMC Dawg
September 30th, 2012
7:27 pm
I liked the “fire in the belly” approach that CPJ brought to GT at first, but CPJ’s lack of a CEO mentality with regards to building ALL aspects of the team is showing more and more.
What about his attitude towards recruiting? I mean some of that “I don’t care where you go, kid” attitude is slightly refreshing, but let’s face it. GT is not bringing in the level of talent they deserve. And don’t give me that crap about the academics. Stanford Univ. anybody???
just saying…
GT1990
September 30th, 2012
7:28 pm
Hire the goose to be the qb coach and hire the fridge to run the offense. Tech needs to make big changes to get the roster back to normal. Will be intresting to see what the running backs do when CPJ is fired.
Delbert D.
September 30th, 2012
7:34 pm
If Tech is playing a 3-4 next season, the NT (Green) is 6′0, 280 unless a freshman starts. The biggest returning DE on the 2-deep is 275 lb. Gotsis has played as a freshman, and he is 300+. Now try to fit those DEs into a 4-3 as DTs. Attaochu and Watts would likely be the DEs in a 4-3, plus Crenshaw. Not counting redshirts.
1 4 GT
September 30th, 2012
7:36 pm
And what ever makes anyone think Whisenhut would leave the NFL for GT? That’s not gonna happen unless he gets fired. And that’s not gonna happen as long as they continue to get to the playoffs, or at least are on the cusp of reaching the playoffs. I can only guess at what he would tell them. I could be wrong. And if Arizona fired Whisenhut, I don’t know that GT could afford him. Why would he take a big pay cut to coach his alma mater? More prestige in being 1 of 32! Small club there!
1 4 GT
September 30th, 2012
7:43 pm
Gotsis actually started Saturday (I know he was in for the 2nd snap thru binoculars) & I didn’t see a substitution. He lined up at both DT & DE (seeing his #96 thru binoculars). Hard to miss his white arms out there. Poor kid McCordes (#35) looked completely lost. He didn’t play in the 2nd half that I saw (freshman).
Delbert D.
September 30th, 2012
7:43 pm
I wonder why this has been blocked. 3rd try, current HCs I pulled out of the air.
Current Head Coaches, Offense background:
Mark Hudspeth, Louisiana-Lafayette
Butch Jones, Cincinnati
Willie Taggert, Western Kentucky
Sonny Dykes, Louisiana Tech
Delbert D.
September 30th, 2012
7:44 pm
I wonder why this has been blocked. 3rd try, current HCs I pulled out of the air.
Current Head Coaches, Offense background:
Mark Hudspeth, Louisiana-Lafayette
Butch Jones, Cincinnati
Willie Taggert, Western Kentucky
Sonny D-y-k-e-s, Louisiana Tech
Delbert D.
September 30th, 2012
7:45 pm
Now you can see why that wouldn’t make it through the censor machine.
USMC Dawg
September 30th, 2012
7:49 pm
Would Tech fans go for a Butch Davis type or what are your thoughts???
1 4 GT
September 30th, 2012
7:52 pm
I wouldn’t. Look what a mess he created @ UNC. I don’t for sure, but I suspect he was involved in some the mess @ Miami.
gt40pinhd
September 30th, 2012
7:52 pm
have to admit, i am NOT a tw fan. but the spacing of the a backs (except for smith) is horrible. has been for several games. they are too close to tw. defender can reach both, sad, no adjustment!
1 4 GT
September 30th, 2012
7:53 pm
left out “know” between don’t & for
Delbert D.
September 30th, 2012
7:53 pm
Butch Davis has a bad reputation for college football. Untouchable, in my book.
GT1990
September 30th, 2012
7:55 pm
What about the guy from UL Monroe?? Anyone know anything on him? @14 GT–Tech is gonna have to pay someone to fix this mess CPJ has done. Scared money doesn’t make money.
Delbert D.
September 30th, 2012
7:56 pm
1 4 GT – Big part of the mess under Jimmy Johnson, then on his on as HC later. Hopefully he will never coach in college again.
Delbert D.
September 30th, 2012
7:58 pm
i picked the La-Lafayette and La Tech guys because I looked at the records last season this summer. La-Monroe is a real surprise.
GT1990
September 30th, 2012
8:01 pm
Tech needs to hire a big name guy. Someone who has alot respect and could convince the kids in this state to stay home. Something that CPJ CAN’T DO!
Delbert D.
September 30th, 2012
8:02 pm
I don’t think that Johnson will be fired, in spite of what Chadd Scott thinks. Scott is a very sharp guy, though. My fun scenario of the day is that Johnson is forced to hire an OC (as well as a DC; no mystery there.)
1 4 GT
September 30th, 2012
8:09 pm
I’ve been considering whether to respond to something or not. While I realize the 1st team QB is not the most talented guy, he is a hard working, dedicated individual that deserves some respect. He tries hard to lead the team to a win. He has turned over a lead in 3 of the last 4 losses to the defense. Those games should have never went to OT, but the defense could not get a stop in the 3 OT games. All that was needed in 1 of them was 1 play on 4th down in the VT game. Has he made mistakes? Yes. Is that a reason to call him “Garbage”? NO!! He is not garbage, and I resent some jack wad calling him that. It is your right to not like his play making ability, but please refrain from calling him garbage. CPJ has made mistakes too. He is not garbage either. Dislike him & his play calling & coaching, but he is not “Garbage”. I could call you a low life pile of trash for calling another decent human being “GARBAGE”, but I won’t. I shall rise above such name calling. I will simply consider the source, a butt sniffing leg humping dwag troll.
Sunday Night Unwind, 09.30.12… « Just Charlie
September 30th, 2012
8:11 pm
[...] of bummed out – no, REALLY bummed out! – by Georgia Tech’s performance(?) yesterday! I’m not sure CPJ has a lot of time left. I’m guessing CAG will be the [...]
Delbert D.
September 30th, 2012
8:12 pm
Ken has a new blog up.
Clyde
September 30th, 2012
8:20 pm
UGA takes a nose dive, Richt gets run out of town, GT picks him up and Good Ole Fashioned Hate goes to the next level.
Admiral Obvious
September 30th, 2012
8:32 pm
Please give Paul Johnson a LONG TERM contract
Please, just recognize the truth
September 30th, 2012
8:41 pm
CPJ is a small college coach. He is too dumb to know that his schemes, his players, wll not perform well at this level; mediocre as IT IS.
LOOK at GT’s record over that last few games over two years: They have lost about 8, winning only 3 or 4. See? Beyond a very medicore UGA club last year, WHO has GT played??? NO ONE !!!!
CPJ was vastly over rated and his middle school O and his 2 and 3 star kids cannot/willnot EVER get it done. The woefull ACC’s better teams are on to his wishbone O now. The CPJ era HAS come and gone.
From here on out ………………….it will turn ugly. GT changes a coach about every 4. 3 years and CPJ is right there. This stat has been true since Dodd slinked away in the 1968, after he was HUMILIATED in the Orange Bowl by SEC Florida.
Dodd, Fulmer, Ross, Curry, Lewis, O’Leary, Carson, CPJ, and about 4 other GT coaches over the last 42 years. What a dreadful record.
GT1990
September 30th, 2012
8:43 pm
@14 Gt—Your mama is GARBAGE
gene kiser
September 30th, 2012
8:45 pm
does the name Bill Lewis ring a bell. Fire them all , coaches,players every one. that defensive bunch
is just as sorry Al Groh. Paul Johnson is a joke he said one time if he listened to the people up in the stands it would not be long until he was up there with them , well its time to go the bleachers.
GT1990
September 30th, 2012
8:46 pm
GT will not make it to a bowl game this year. I think CPJ should be fired along with the whole coaching staff. GT should cancel the rest of the season and kick every kid off scholarships! 2013 class should have 85 committs!
GT man
September 30th, 2012
8:49 pm
Enter your comments here
billyBobjacket
September 30th, 2012
9:03 pm
Thank God we have Al Groh and Tevin to blame, otherwise we MIGHT have to admit that maybe CPJ isn’t the answer after all.
Clyde
September 30th, 2012
9:53 pm
The offense has been pretty steady during CPJ’s entire tenure, BillyBobjacket. The defense sucked with the coordinator before Al Groh too. Josh Nesbitt thrived in the offense but TW, not so much.