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
Ol'JacketFan
September 29th, 2012
8:16 pm
Hey Truth, spend a little time looking at the two offenses and then get back with me. I didn’t say a thing about the talent level at the two schools I spoke solely about the offenses. Do a little study time and educate yourself.
Ol'JacketFan
September 29th, 2012
8:18 pm
@Delbert, certainly conditioning is a key but the unpredictability of the offense keeps a D off balance and the O ahead of down and distance.
GTBob
September 29th, 2012
8:20 pm
Looks like ojf is a little butthurt again… Oh, poor baby…
Clyde
September 29th, 2012
8:22 pm
Thank goodness UGA is doing good or this state would be in shambles right now. With the state being 95% Bulldawg fans, everyone is happy and spending their money. Good for the economy. CPJ needs to go home and make some easy decisions, in my opinion. I am completely sick of watching Tevin Washington try to figure out what to do with the football when he gets it. Bench him and Groh and get this deal turned around. If Vad Lee sucks, we’ll know before the end of the season and CPJ can focus on Justin Thomas or Tim Byerly.
Sweet
September 29th, 2012
8:23 pm
Looks like they call it “the flats” for a reason.
redandblack
September 29th, 2012
8:25 pm
WOW!!!!!!!………JUST WOW!!!!!!!……..Didn’t see this one coming!!!!!!…………..Holy Crap!!!!!
I thought for sure you guys would bounce back this week……….WOW!!!
This one has got to sting (no pun intended)………I really feel for you folks!!!!!! Really I do..
1-800-273-8255 National Suicide Hotline…….Just in case……….
Only trying to help….
bigeasy830
September 29th, 2012
8:26 pm
Tech has gotten worse every year unde CPJ because he cannot recruit. No blue chip players want to play in thagt system. I have called it a high school system, but i recently went to a couple of high school games and most high school run the spread and not that triple option crap that GT runs.
GIVE ME A BREAK
September 29th, 2012
8:26 pm
Tevin has done his best. He has shown that he can not make decisions quick enough against good teams. By the time he decides what to do the defense has shut the play down. He probably would be very successful on a FCS team. The defense played as uninspired as I have ever seen. At one point I thought that the players had bought into his system but I can’t believe that now. They looked absolutely clueless. CAG had his shot and now it’s time to move on.
Athens Tech Fan
September 29th, 2012
8:29 pm
By the way, did anyone watch BYU destroy Hawaii last night ? We play them in a few weeks !
Go Jackets
September 29th, 2012
8:29 pm
I used to think of Johnson as a bully. Crushing the little teams and getting roflstomped by the big boys. Now we cant even beat the little teams. If Johnsons job is safe after this year, I dont think DRad can afford to keep him after next years embarassments. I guess I’ll let my tickets slide till the 2014 season.
Jim
September 29th, 2012
8:29 pm
The GT fans should be embarassed. The stadium was not close to full. You don’t deserve a good team.
Supersize that order, mutt
September 29th, 2012
8:31 pm
@ GIVE ME…….They not only looked clueless, they looked like they didn’t really care.
GIVE ME A BREAK
September 29th, 2012
8:36 pm
SS, I can ‘t remember the game but there was another time that the team looked like they quit on CPJ. The defense played that way today. They play like they don’t believe in what they are doing. Kentucky is playing an inspired game.
Delbert D.
September 29th, 2012
8:38 pm
Super – I think we will see if they care next week. I suspect there was a lot of feeling sorry for themselves during the past week.
Delbert D.
September 29th, 2012
8:39 pm
LSU is having problems again. Towson.
Greg
September 29th, 2012
8:44 pm
Please don’t win SIX games. No one wants to drive halfway across the country for your pointless bowl bid. Prediction: YOU WANT BEAT DUKE!
GT is a 4th rate high school team
September 29th, 2012
8:44 pm
GT wont even qualify in the FCS. LOL
suggs
September 29th, 2012
8:46 pm
Hey guys! You can always go troll the UGA blogs. Oh, snap!. That ain’t gonna work either.
BreakingNews
September 29th, 2012
8:46 pm
dear techies…you suck. Stay off the Dawgs blog! Hahahahaha
Supersize that order, mutt
September 29th, 2012
8:46 pm
real classy, dwag trolls. Your overrated team almost put you in a similar position today. And they will put you in that position next week, since USC is much better than UT.
Dadgum...
September 29th, 2012
8:47 pm
There are upsets and there are embarrassments. Today was no upset. The better team won and would win again if we played them next week. Truth is GT is a very average team and I’m being kind. Rad should start to take notice quickly. Johnson is the Hewitt of football. The man simply can’t coach. Has underperformed in most of the games that have really mattered. Al Groh needs to be dismissed immediately. I don’t want to hear about the players we didn’t have today. Shouldn’t matter.
In addition to all the above, our QB is simply not a winner. GT is not going to a significant bowl if any. May as well play Lee now. The season is done. You know you suck when Duke looks better than you. That’s bad. Bottom line is GT is simply not getting the athletes and nobody wants to come in and play in Johnson’s system with GT’s curriculum requirements. It is what it is and it ain’t pretty. GT is like the majority of the ACC. Irrelevant. Sad to see for a proud school. Realize today that UVA lost to LA Tech, Cincy beat VT, Mid Tenn beat GT. Black eye for the ACC.
Rock on…….Clemson beats GT next week 52-21. Could be worse.
Delbert D.
September 29th, 2012
8:48 pm
Super – Check your email
GT is a 4th rate high school team
September 29th, 2012
8:50 pm
Really a high school team. NO DOUBT.!!!!!!!!! MOST DEF !!!!!!!!!! ABSOLUTELY !!!!!!!!!! HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAAHHAHAHAHAHAHAHA
Supersize that order, mutt
September 29th, 2012
8:51 pm
@ Delbert……got it and responded
A Question....
September 29th, 2012
8:51 pm
….for the assembled mutt trolls. One of your brethren earlier in the day concluded that the 3-4 defense was a valid scheme as evidenced by the success Alabama and UGA have had with it. I nearly laughed my computer off my lap. I wonder if Sabans 3-4 would have given up 44 to UT? Thoughts?
Delbert D.
September 29th, 2012
8:53 pm
Super – got a reply already
Supersize that order, mutt
September 29th, 2012
8:55 pm
@ Delbert……forward that to me too
rj
September 29th, 2012
8:55 pm
I totally agree. Paul Johnson can’t coach at this level. Statesboro was his highest and best fit. What is it going to take for the AD to recognize thru all the embarrassment that a change has to be made and don’t wait until the end of the year. The year is shot. Change now, before refunds are requested due to false advertising. This is not major college football.
I suggest that if the AD can’t pull the trigger then the President needs to start the ax falling with him.
northeast alumn
September 29th, 2012
8:57 pm
Tech was already in trouble when we lost to LSU in chick-fil-a bowl. all downhill from there. false promises. we need somebody who will build this program like a SEC one. no more NFL washouts whose selling point is getting players ready for the next level. no more gimmick ppl whose too stubborn to admit his way is wrong and tries to patch it up with another gimmick called pistol. We need somebody who can say we’ll go beat UGA, VT, Clem, FSU on a yearly bases and compete for championships.
Supersize that order, mutt
September 29th, 2012
8:58 pm
Looks like somebody got rid of CharlotteDawg……GOOD RIDDANCE
Ol'JacketFan
September 29th, 2012
8:58 pm
Ken any particular reason my last post got gobbled up in the filters?
Strange Murphy
September 29th, 2012
8:59 pm
HOW BOUT THEM BLUE RAIDERS!!!!!
Brian Cagle
September 29th, 2012
9:02 pm
The option offense was all right in the 1950s.This is 2012 and its all about the passing game. Don’t get me wrong you still have to run to keep it balanced but you have to be able to throw the ball.
BigTimeTECHFan
September 29th, 2012
9:03 pm
Jacket just got caught looking passed ETSU and paid the price. Happens to the best of teams.
Jacket will be ready for Clemson.
Go Jackets
johnny creek
September 29th, 2012
9:04 pm
Paul Johnson, REALLY?
Bamajacket
September 29th, 2012
9:06 pm
Flat, Tevin? You were flat? No, you were flattened. How could this team, with it’s recent performance, be flat? This was no upset, it was a good old fashioned Tennessee butt whipping. There is no worry about Johnson losing his 5th bowl game, not this year. It’s time that somebody recognized that this coaching staff has lost this team. How can DRad expect people to cough up hard earned money to watch this? Fan apathy finally got rid of Hewett. How long does rad continue to watch this when the ending is so predictable? And we were all so enthused 5 years ago….Sad
Can you believe it?
September 29th, 2012
9:07 pm
Come on guys give it time – just wait until CPJ recruits his kind of players for his stylized offense……..oh wait …….never mind.
You guys are stuck with him. GT doesn’t have the money to send him packing and even if they did can any of you name a qualified coach that would take the job. It won’t be easy since the rooster is made up of some not so good players (Div II of even III types). So many here tried to tell you guys the ship was listing but you just drank the Kool-Aid and blasted us.
I almost feel sorry for the real GT fans but love seeing UOAD, Supersize, The Real Yellowjacket and a few others chomping on the crow sandwich.
Listen to WnE – he knows of what he speaks.
Delbert D.
September 29th, 2012
9:08 pm
I think we may have a winner. A poster just might have made the FBI Terrorist Screening Center’s Terrorist Watchlist a few minutes ago.
redandblack
September 29th, 2012
9:11 pm
@ A Question..
We’ll find out in 2 weeks when they play in Knoxville…..The Tide has played no one of any significance as yet. And with Ole Miss tonight, they still haven’t.
LSU is currentrly struggling with (of all people) Towson.
So Tenn and Miss State may be the toughest teams on their schedule….
But we’ll see how it all plays out….
Good luck next week……You’re sure as hell gonna need it….
Supersize that order, mutt
September 29th, 2012
9:12 pm
@ Delbert……that would be something, wouldn’t it?
Dadgum...
September 29th, 2012
9:13 pm
GT will not get the top recruits until they expand their curriculum and get rid of the gimmick offense. Hate to say it but that’s the way it is these days.
Supersize that order, mutt
September 29th, 2012
9:15 pm
@ Dadgum…..thanks to the UGA-alum stacked BOR, Tech can never expand the curriculum. The BOR has to approve all such changes, and they have consistently blocked it through the years.
FATS
September 29th, 2012
9:18 pm
Cry me a river. Football is not Tech’s priority. Study to be great engineers,etc and” FOGET about it”
This football is meaningless once you graduate.
Ol'JacketFan
September 29th, 2012
9:18 pm
Hmmm yet another use of the term gimmicky. Can’t someone come up with something original?
Delbert D.
September 29th, 2012
9:23 pm
OJF – They’ve been complaining ever since the forward pass was legalized.
Dawg1
September 29th, 2012
9:23 pm
I actually encouraged you guys to show some patience here; but have to admit that MTSU has changed my mind.
I will say that MTSU looked pretty darn good today. And you were running into one of those teams with a ton of Georgia kids on it. That’s never fun. They come back really motivated and ready to play.
Will tell you this. I’m a big Phoenix Cardinal fan these days. In my mind, the perfect fit for Tech’s program is Whisenhunt. His resume is stellar. He’s a Tech man. Grew up in the state and clearly can talk to any kid in the Southeast with credibility of saying “I can help get you to the next level”. So, as you can imagine, I’m perfectly happy with Phoenix making the playoffs year in and year out.
As far as the game goes; the only observation that I have is, why start throwing now? Stick to the ground game and wear them down. I know it wasn’t working as well as in the past, but it was if the patience that has been there in past seasons, seems to have gone out the window this year.
One last thought. $12MM or not, if your not putting people in the stands, then your largest money maker is killing your bottom-line. Now since Tech isn’t affected by Title Nine IX, like most schools, you still need this program to generate profit, and you need for your larger contributors to stay on board. Contracts can be negotiated down. CPJ isn’t the type to sit on the side line; wouldn’t surprise me at all if he didn’t move his office right down the street to Georgia State.
I think Tech will play much better next week. Clemson overmatches most teams, so I do think they will win. But with this said, I think the Jackets will make a game of it.
Here’s to both teams leaving the state of South Carolina with a win next Saturday. But they both better play better than they did today, or it’ll be a long drive home.
Chew
September 29th, 2012
9:23 pm
George o’Leary
Ol'JacketFan
September 29th, 2012
9:25 pm
LOL@ Delbert and here I was thinking I was old!!
Ol'JacketFan
September 29th, 2012
9:27 pm
Whisenhunt would be an interesting option if, and it’s a big if, he wants to leave the NFL. Certainly he has the ability and credentials but would he leave where he is?
Supersize that order, mutt
September 29th, 2012
9:27 pm
@ Dawg1…..thanks. very classy post