In return home, Lee incinerates Tar Heels
By Doug Roberson
CHAPEL HILL, N.C. – The Vad Lee era may have begun Saturday afternoon in Georgia Tech’s 68-50 victory over North Carolina.
Lee, a quarterback whom Yellow Jackets fans have been pleading to see more of all season, entered in the third series and remained the Jackets’ quarterback till the end. He led the team to 55 points, scoring on nine of his 12 drives in front of more than 30 friends and family from his nearby hometown of Durham.
“I just wanted to play my best game and take advantage of my best opportunity,” he said.
Coach Paul Johnson said the plan was to give Tevin Washington, who led the Jackets to their first touchdown, and Lee two consecutive series each at the beginning of the game and then decide who would go out on the fifth series.
But Lee seldom stopped scoring. Then Johnson said it reached a point where it became Lee’s game. Johnson declined to say if Lee would start next week’s game against Duke, though he acknowledged Lee “played pretty good.”
“I’m drained watching him play,” Johnson said. “He’s talented. He makes big plays, but he’s a freshman, but he plays the game.”
Lee rushed 23 times for 124 yards and two touchdowns and completed six of 10 passes for 169 yards, a touchdown and an interception.
“I didn’t imagine this game swinging this way, but anything it takes to win,” he said.
It wasn’t all pretty, but when it wasn’t, Lee usually bounced back.
Lee almost ran a toss sweep into “40 guys” on a fourth-and-goal from the 1-yard line in the second quarter. But Johnson recognized the danger and called a timeout just before the snap. Lee said he saw that the Tar Heels had the numerical advantage, but he wanted to try to make a play, perhaps showing why Johnson said he was “drained” watching him. After the timeout, during which Johnson changed the call, Lee barreled in for the touchdown.
Lee then showed again why fans have been clamoring for him to play, throwing a 32-yard touchdown pass with a delicate touch to Robbie Godhigh in the third quarter.
“That … was a pretty good throw,” Johnson said.
Lee later threw an interception that was returned for a touchdown to cut Tech’s lead to 58-50 in the fourth quarter and give the Tar Heels hope. Lee said he had a miscommunication with Darren Waller, who took off up the field. The pass went right to Tim Scott, who didn’t bite on the move.
But Lee answered on the next drive, rushing for 39 yards on a third-and-5 to set up a 22-yard touchdown run by Orwin Smith on an option play. The score gave the Jackets a 65-50 lead with 11:02 left to play.
“The kid makes plays, and he did today,” Johnson said.
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103 comments Add your comment
Paul in Nh
November 11th, 2012
10:36 am
I will be surprised if Tevin does not start against Duke but I expect Vad to play more series. In basketball you see seniors start on Senior Day even if they have little time.
Buzzted
November 11th, 2012
10:41 am
WP in AZ are you freakin crazy????? GT owes TW nothing more than what he has received. He was all we had when Nesbitt went down. He was NEVER our next choice!! HELLO….he will sit and watch as VAD gets what is now HIS TURN
Buzzted
November 11th, 2012
10:43 am
The VAD LEE era which was in my opinion too long in the wait….is NOW HERE! Period. TW can have ONE series vs Duke next week cuz he is a senior….then bye bye Tevin. He was never our choice as much as he was all we had at the time. The future is VAD LEE and Justin Thomas
Buzzted
November 11th, 2012
10:45 am
Hey Paul in ph….yes, as a senior TW can maybe start or at least get a series to see if he can beat the TD record but…..truth be told, we should NOT care about that silly record for him. Lot of falling into the end zone TDs does not make me excited as much as seeing what a true passing QB can do in this system FINALLY
Buzzted
November 11th, 2012
10:48 am
Wow WP in AZ you really don’t GET IT. This may be college football but…TW was never a good “back up” anyway….he was ALL WE HAD. Would not start at QB at any other div 2 school cuz he cannot throw a forward pass. Have you been watching? There is no “right of passage” when it applies to sports like football. You gotta win period. Come on now…..
chas_jacket
November 11th, 2012
11:03 am
I believe that CPJ will let Tevin play a few series to break the record – which is great, but Vad will once again take over. It is difficult to replace a Senior QB who has been a credit to the school and is a great young man, but it is time for just that. The offense has sputtered because of a lack of a serious passing threat and there can be no overlooking it.
One issue I have not seen mentioned is that there are 90 plus other players on the team and it is the coaches responsibility to get the best players on the field to win – period. Imagine how other team members feel if they are putting 110% effort on the field and a QB is playing because of tenure and not skill? Tevin is a class act and will continue to help Vad along.
Great win for the jackets – another big win against duke and the ugag game looks to be interesting – although the dwags are playing really well.
White&Gold
November 11th, 2012
11:16 am
Give Tevin the first two drives, let him his TD, and then let Vad get the majority of the reps from there.
AMG
November 11th, 2012
11:19 am
I am happy to see the Lee era begin. I have been an out spoken fan of starting Lee all year round, but I have to say that CPJ has done a great job bringing him around slowly and really preparing him to take over.
Buzzted
November 11th, 2012
11:20 am
Agree with White&Gold, let TW start…..ala Bobby Cremins and his basketball days, and then pull him for the much better talent of Vad Lee and lets see how much more comfortable he can become before the UGA game and hopefully before a Bowl Game that we can finally win because the threat of the downfield pass that we have lacked since Godsey.
Buzzted
November 11th, 2012
11:22 am
I went from being very down on CPJ and our Jackets after the BYU game to being way UP after what I saw yesterday. Yes, our Defense is awful and it will cost us games even still but…..the offense that could ONLY run can now PASS…..look out if we get some quality receivers who can catch!
fuzzybee78
November 11th, 2012
11:34 am
In the past CPJ was in an evaluation process with VL to see how far along he has come in grasping the job of QB. He then had a choice of playing Lee or TW on the basis of “who gives us the best chance to win”. What has changed now is that it is clear that VL “gives us the best chance to win”.
He knows Lee has won the job. He may choose to NOT say so publicly and start TW because to do otherwise is putting in TW as a “token” and Tevin is not some end of the bench guy.
The other approach because where we are in the year and TW running out of games is to say “the torch is being passed”, TW will start on SR day and give way to Lee. This doesnt disrespect TW.
CPJ is going to think about this and handle it well!
o'keefe
November 11th, 2012
11:40 am
TW should start And finish if possible but VL should get the team to the point where we insure the wins. TW is a real class guu and should be treated as such.HE is and will be a real credit to Ga Tech in the future. ALSO, has anyone thought what this offense can be with a real B back who can break a long run?We haven’t had that since J Dwyer left. I was hoping that C Perkins was going to be that guy but he has one problem after another.Laskey and Sims are adequate but neither has that combination of power and speed that is needed for a top notch B back.
chas_jacket
November 11th, 2012
11:46 am
One other thought about waiting as long in the season as CPJ did to bring Vad on. If Vad starts too soon, he could easily revert/rely on his physical talents and be too quick to abandon the game plan.
The other consideration with Tevin in addition to treating him with respect is that we may very well still need him this year – Vad could get hurt or have a protracted freshman relapse.
William Casey
November 11th, 2012
11:58 am
@…TAKE THE WHEEL: Thanks for your comment about Robert Godhigh. Our RG III had a magnificent game yesterday. That dope, who on Friday was saying he’d rather have Caeb King than Robert Godhigh, is probably feeling dumb. Except, guys that dumb don’t realize that they are dumb.
Ga Tech Old Timer
November 11th, 2012
12:05 pm
VAD WAS VALIDATED YESTERDAY!!
The fact that he is ready to run this offense.
The fact that he is a talented player.
The fact that he possesses great leadership abilities.
The fact that he makes mistakes (interception) and shakes it off.
The fact that he can hit a receiver in full stride.
The fact that he has better size and speed to run than TW.
The fact that he looks off the primary receiver.
The fact that his team gets pumped up when he’s playing.
The fact that he gives Tech a better chance of winning.
I take nothing away from Tevin. He has “held” the TO offense together at a time when no other QB was able to due to the ability to run it effectively. Tevin should always be appreciated for what he has brought to the program and institute in terms of additude and effort. He is a fine young man and a tribute to Ga Tech. He has led and played his best in every game and for that my hat is off to him and I thank him for being a credit to the Jackets. Here’s to hoping Tevin much success in the future as a business man – after he breaks the team record for touchdowns – and finishes the season in a bowl game.
William Casey
November 11th, 2012
12:08 pm
@BUZZTED: I am glad that neither myself nor my son had the misfortune of having played on a team with you as a teammate. Your 10:48 post was disgusting. TW was never a great QB but he busted his tail to win for GT. It is you who is clueless.
So What
November 11th, 2012
12:10 pm
Who cares about whether this guy or that guy is a senior of a freshman. The point of the game is to win. This isn’t the senior prom. Put the most talented person in the game. I don’t care about individual records. I want the team to win. Think about Oregon. That coach started a true freshman quarterback over a more experienced player. They seem to be doing O.K. How long you have played a position shouldn’t determine if you continue to start. Who is the best should do that. Washington has only played so so. I don’t want a so so record. Who in the hell wants to go to the toilet bowl every year and get stomped by Georgia every year?
ramblingbuzz
November 11th, 2012
12:10 pm
Don’t see how anyone could diss Godhigh even before yesterday’s game. Pretty obvious that as a former walk-on he has been doing whatever it takes to earn his PT. You’ve got to admire that kind of attitude and enthusiasm. Movitvated, disciplined ball players are not that easy to come by even if they are only 5″7″.
Tevin isn't owed anything.
November 11th, 2012
12:15 pm
He’s gotten a free ride to a school he probably wouldn’t have gotten accepted to if he didn’t play football, and was given more slack as a starter than any player deserves. His ‘record’ is a meaningless achievement highlighted by his 4 TD 4 yard performance against MTSU. It’s a record that he doesn’t deserve, but the upside is that he won’t have it long. As far as Lee goes, he’s the real deal and should have been starting from game 1. It’s amazing that such an experienced coach put so little value into the athletic advantage Lee had. After all he’s the one that said physical superiority cancels all theories.
o'keefe
November 11th, 2012
12:19 pm
S Days has been pretty impressive also.
Michael
November 11th, 2012
1:18 pm
Tevin completed a very wobbly and late pass to Orwin Smith and it was just 15 yards down the field. Had he zipped it, Vad Lee like, Orwin might still be running. This is one of the many little things that make fans want to see Vad Lee play full time with Tevin spelling him.
The more elusive runner – Vad
The faster player – Vad
The more experienced player – Tevin (maybe better reads)
The more accurate passer – Vad
The more powerful passer – Vad
The Flexbone deserves a dynamic QB, not an “adequate” one. Vad is dynamic with home-run threat running ability that Tevin sorely lacks (the A backs and QB need to be capable of breaking long runs consistently when they’re available). Vad is CLEARLY the better passer, both in accuracy and power. There just isn’t anything that Tevin can do that Vad can’t do better, save for the occasional mis-read. I will take a mis-read 1 of every 5 plays or so over mediocrity all 5 plays. There is a good chance Vad turns the mis-reads into a large gain on ability alone.
Tevin is a good backup, he is not a good starter and never has been, not if you’ve watch CPJ teams in the past. His best offenses came when he had a QB that was fast and could throw well (mostly spirals). Tevin can do neither at the level required to remove the handcuffs on the offense. He plays well, but holds it back on ability alone.
Crazy Robert
November 11th, 2012
1:21 pm
I sure hope Tevin gets more playing time but Vad sure made a case for himself. Except Vad, why didn’t you takle Tim Scott after the interception, you did almost everything else? Hahahahaha
60yearGTfan
November 11th, 2012
2:52 pm
Enter your comments here
60yearGTfan
November 11th, 2012
2:57 pm
I met Tevin at an Alexander-Tharpe function. He is just a great person and has represented GT in the best possible way. He should be given the up-most respect so I think he at least deserves to start on Sr. Day. – just saying.
gt34backer
November 11th, 2012
4:44 pm
Went to see a football game and a basketball game broke out! Great job Jackets. I was in the middle of UNC fans and everyone was very complimentary of Tech. ACC fans are great no matter where we play. Vad was great and if our defense can stop once or twice a game with big plays our offense will do the rest. GO JACKETS!!!
DawginNY
November 11th, 2012
5:06 pm
Tech will be scary if they ever get a good defensive coordinator. Hopefully, your myopic fans will force PJ out before that happens. I would say the fact that you couldn’t sell 7,500 tickets to the Georgia game is a good sign.
dry dirt road
November 11th, 2012
5:50 pm
let him start the next game against Duke, then start him against Georgia, TW is in his decline phase, Lee had his introduction phase against NC, now his growth phase starts against Duke, better get all we can out of him before the pros do; the pros got 75% of Favors, Tech 25%
Supersize that order, mutt
November 11th, 2012
5:50 pm
@ DawginNY…..one reason we returned tickets for Athens is because nobody likes to go there. Your fans are the most unruly, obnoxious, and disrespectful fans I have ever seen anywhere. I got spit on there by one of your fans after a Tech win. I will NEVER go there again, even if Tech were favored by 4 TD’s.
GT1990
November 11th, 2012
6:08 pm
Johnson said he is “drained” watching him play. Can anyone explain to me better what that means?
William Casey
November 11th, 2012
6:37 pm
@GT1990: as a retired coach I know exactly what CPJ means. He has a talented but inexperienced QB. It’s a roller coaster.
GT1990
November 11th, 2012
6:40 pm
The kid can play. CPJ is a idiot!
SHOW STOPPER
November 11th, 2012
6:51 pm
Despite Tech’s 68 points Saturday against a better-than-average football team, I’m still saying that “Defense wins football games.”
Lack of the same lost one for UNC.
o'keefe
November 11th, 2012
7:03 pm
SHOW STOPPER the defense won this game.They had 2 more stops than the opponent.
GT1990–If CPJ is an idiot,why did he leave Vad Lee in the game for 3 quarters? Some idiot, huh?
GT1990
November 11th, 2012
7:38 pm
@o’keefe
Why would he say he is drained watching him play? Other than the int Lee played better than TW has in his career. Im not to sure that int was lee fault. I think the WR ran the wrong rout.
DawginNY
November 11th, 2012
8:25 pm
@Supersize, I am sure that we have our share of fans who get carried away. I have witnessed it from every fan base, including seeing Tech fans vandalize the hedges in 1998. A large portion of the Tech culture, as evidenced by your fight songs and your personal screen name, is based upon an unhealthy hatred bordering on obsession with Georgia rather than support for your own team. If it makes you feel better to think that one group of people is inherently better than another based upon some superficial characteristic like one of the athletic teams they support, then I truly feel sorry for you.
The point still remains that Tech has had a problem with fan support this year and there has been discussion that the offense is too tough of a sell. The fact that Tech has a narrower curriculum makes it difficult for Tech to recruit the same athletes other state universities, according to my Yellowjacket friends. If that is so, then an unconventional offense that defenses don’t see every week can level the playing field. Your head coach has had trouble identifying a good defensive coordinator. Given enough time, I think he will eventually find one and then Tech will be very tough to beat. It seems though that the amount of time he will be given may be in doubt, based upon feedback I have heard from Tech supporters and local sports media.
1 4 GT
November 11th, 2012
10:30 pm
CPJ saying he is “drained” after watching Vad play is like me saying my 2 (5 & 3 years old boys) grand nephews tire me out watching them go wide open all day long. Good grief!!!
1 4 GT
November 11th, 2012
10:35 pm
What would your “local” sports media know about GT DawginNewYork? And you must be talking to the same Tech “fans” that agitated for firing Dodd after a 4 & 6 season in 1945. His 1st official year as HC.
1 4 GT
November 11th, 2012
10:51 pm
I concede that CPJ likely needs to have noticeable improvement next year or his seat will begin warming up.
southern bell
November 12th, 2012
12:34 am
I agree that Tevin should start on Senior day, then let Vad play the rest of the time. Vad did look pretty tired at the end though. Guess he needs to get used to playing for a longer period of time than 2 series.
FORMATION 4 SUCCESS
November 12th, 2012
12:53 am
You can’t have it both ways guys. TW is a good player that we are all proud of and thankful for all he has done. But, this is a high powered offense that has been running on 87 Octane. Vad adds the extra umpf that makes this offense do what CPJ and those like me know what it can do. Tough kids that like to hit, fast backs that can move there hips, receivers that will make plays and a QB that has a quick first step, great decision making capabilities and a strong accurate arm will light up the scoreboard and give everyone we play fits. I believe TW should start the rest of the games, but when you have a guy open down field and you have to put in a rope to get it there. Lee is your man not Tevin. Loved to see the execution on Saturday. Now, it is important not to fall victim to the smelling yourself disease. You are only as good as your next play.
ronny mulkey
November 12th, 2012
4:35 am
Showstopper,
Did you hear Lou holz’s comment Saturday regarding the N. Carolina-Tech game – “how about the first team to tackle someone wins the game”.
You are absolutely right about defense and Tech has zero defensive players.
Mulk
Coach Z
November 12th, 2012
8:22 am
@ronny mulkey… Coach Holtz must have been speaking about Georgia Tech defensive players only because it is hard to tackle anybody when you’re (UNC defensive players) on the ground. On most of our TO plays, GT was blocking everybody.
Having said that, I agree GT defense needs to improve. Especially third down passing plays.
Hey O'keefe
November 12th, 2012
8:38 am
The question shouldn’t be why he left Lee in for three quarters. It should be why did Tevin even get one. It should be why didn’t Lee get time earlier? This wasn’t a product of Lee being brought along slowly until he was ready. He was ready game 1. It was a product of him finally a chance to prove himself. Something he didn’t get early because Johnson didn’t think his athleticism would make up for his experience or that Tevin’s lack of such was an issue. He was wrong. Period. This isn’t little league. Tevin shouldn’t get the start just because he works hard or is a good person. The better player should play and it took 10 games for the better player to get starter number snaps.
Rick
November 12th, 2012
8:54 am
What has tevin “earned”. He didn’t earn anything. His record as a starter is medicore at best. We lose Saturday if he plays the whole game. That is without a doubt. He got to play waaayyyy more than he should. He’s a ga southern type qb. Rmemeber we had a backup that transfered there. Lee is bigger and stronger and has an arm. Good grief he should have been playing all season to prep for next year. Get a decent rb for next year and things could turn quickly for the better.
Rick
November 12th, 2012
8:56 am
And I guarantee you if lee starts all year long, we don’t lose to middle tennessee and miami.
Rick
November 12th, 2012
9:06 am
Crazy to think as bad as this season has played out, if they hadnt choked against miami, or as i said before, had vad started the season, then they would be playing fsu for a bcs birth. Could still happen if miami self imposes. Not likely if they beat dook tho. But with so many acc teams not bowl eligible or some not able to play in them, gt could actually get a decent bowl game. Depends if vt wins out.
GT Lover
November 12th, 2012
10:44 am
I told you after the BYU game!
Win four, win four!
I told you we can do it!
Believe and support!
Support your team. support your coach!
Beat Dook and ugaly!
RAMBLE ON!!!
November 12th, 2012
12:17 pm
Vlad Lee is the man, period!
hey rick
November 12th, 2012
12:57 pm
hey rick since your so fn smart maybe we should can cpj and make you coach?
we heard you the first time and the second time and the third time. are you 13 years old? sheeeeesh.
there is no guarantee that vad would have won any of the games we lost. anybody with an ounce of sense that watched all 4 of those games would admit that the d was what lost at least 3 of those games. coach groh and his prevent d and 80+ different defensive formations is what lost us those games not the offense. in all 4 games we scored enough points to win most games had we had a good d.
and as far as who deserves what
November 12th, 2012
1:21 pm
this is not the pros. the players dont get payed. so to compare playing pee wee or jv or high school or college ball to playing in the pros or competing for a job is nuts.
i promise you that some of you that are dismissive of tw would be the first to whine and cry should your little boy be treated the same way that you want cpj to treat tw. GUARANTEED!
while i agree that the whole idea is winning that is not all sports is about at this level imo. maybe i am old school but the last time i looked playing sports is also about learning to handle adversity and giving out respect and a host of other ideals. those are things that seem to be foreign to some of you.
if you jacket fans are all about winning than i suggest you jump on board the saban/bama ‘win at all cost’ bandwagon. me? i want to win but i dont want to do at the cost of tossing a fellow player out with the bath water. tw deserves better.
yes vad is more talented. that does not mean you just disrespect tw in the process. i promise you there are many players on our 80+ player team that are watching closely how well the coaching staff and the fans treat tw.
and you ‘fans’ are the same ones who whine when you think a player has quit on the team. why would i, as a player, give my all for a team / group of fans after reading some of the childish comments on this blog?
imo, tw should start against duke and be given every chance to break that record. once that is accomplished bring in vad to finish the game and gain even more game experience.
as far as the uga game, i would not make a call if i were coach. let uga worry about which qb to prepare for. meanwhile i would consider doing the same thing we did at nc. start tw and finish up with vad.
just my opinion and i could be wrong.