A most pivotal game for Tech
The ship had sailed. The credits were rolling. Georgia Tech’s shot at an ACC title was smashed into pieces.
It’s what fans thought. After Clemson overpowered the Yellow Jackets Oct. 6, it’s what players thought, too.
“Three losses back-to-back and some in conference play, and we were just like, Nah, there’s no bouncing back for this season,” inside linebacker Quayshawn Nealy said. “Let’s just try to go to a bowl game.”
Tech still had a path to win the ACC Coastal Division and claim the conference title, its primary goal for the season. But the Jackets had to be perfect in the conference and also required help in the form of Virginia Tech’s worst season since 1992. That’s all.
“Our team chaplain, Derrick Moore, he does a great job,” quarterback Vad Lee said. “He’d be in the locker room saying, ‘Our goals are still alive,’ even after we’d had all these losses, and everybody’s looking at him like he’s crazy.”
The Hokies collapsed, the Jackets have walked the path and no one is looking askance at the chaplain now. Tech plays Duke Saturday in its final home game of the season with a record of 5-5 overall and 4-3 in the ACC. At the least, a win secures the Jackets bowl eligibility and a share of the Coastal Division title. At best, if Duke beats Miami Nov. 24 or the Hurricanes self-impose a postseason ban as part of sanctions resulting from an NCAA investigation, the Jackets will be in Charlotte Dec. 1 to play for the ACC title – the same Jackets who lost by 21 points at home to Middle Tennessee State, made necessary the firing of defensive coordinator Al Groh and incited the more impatient segments of the Tech fan base (and maybe some of the patient ones, too) to call for coach Paul Johnson’s firing.
“We had some inspiring wins, played some tough games, experienced some tough losses, experienced some very uppity moments, some happy moments,” senior defensive Izaan Cross said. “It’s been like this.”
With that, Cross made a wave pattern with his hand. With three wins in the past four games, Tech is cresting. Tech throttled North Carolina last Saturday 68-50, the most points it has scored in any of its 228 ACC games. (It was also the fourth most points Tech had allowed in an ACC game.)
Saturday’s game, senior day for Cross and his 11 classmates, can either continue to lift the Jackets or usher them into descent.
The reality of Tech’s second-half resurgence is that the Jackets’ position is still precarious. Despite having played more than 80 percent of the regular season, Tech couldn’t write the first words of a 2012 synopsis, unless they were “strange season.”
In two weeks’ time, Johnson’s team could be celebrating a stunning rebirth that sends them to the Orange Bowl. Or, in a week, they could be lamenting a squandered season and the end of their 15-game bowl streak.
“I’ve been thinking about that a lot,” said Cross, his Tech career whittled down to its last few games. “A lot at stake on this game, for sure.”
The Blue Devils arrive at the third Saturday of November with similar dissonance. In coach David Cutcliffe’s fifth season, Duke has earned its first bowl bid since 1994, but also has been routed in three of its past four games. The Blue Devils, too, can win the Coastal with their first win over the Jackets since 2003 and a follow-up win over the Hurricanes.
The Blue Devils are an unlikely partner, but it’s fair to call this Tech’s most meaningful game since the 2010 Orange Bowl.
“We’re trying to treat it that way,” Cross said. “I know the coaches, especially the defensive side of the ball, are making a big emphasis on that. Coach Johnson just said, ‘If you can’t get up for this game, then you don’t deserve a heartbeat.’”
In case you missed it…
Tech offense seeking more vs. Duke
The possibilities of a Coastal tie at 4-4
Tech avoids letdown vs. Presbyterian
Notes: NCAA experts say Miami should self-impose
Johnson on Lee, offense, redshirt freshmen
Notes: Washington looking like starter
No chance, after all, for Tech in three-way Coastal tie
Notes: Johnson to again wait on naming starting QB
Bradley: Tech as Coastal champion? Yep, it could happen
Tech season takes another turn
Tech-Georgia gets noon kickoff
Golden, Nealy ACC players of the week
Ken Sugiura, Georgia Tech blog
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78 comments Add your comment
10 out of 11 supersized
November 17th, 2012
12:34 am
Valid point wreckinbee but it does make u guys look stupid for tech fans to call UGA anybody’s weak little sister because we own u.
Leaving now and not mad. Just amazed that anyone could talk as much smack as you guys do on here about a team that embarrasses you with year after year of defeat.
I like college football a lot. Specifically Georgia teams and I read the articles to gain perspective on different teams and learn about the players and fans reactions based on performance. That is what draws me in. The bashing of a team you can’t beat is the part I think makes your fan base look stupid. Comments like weak little sister only make one wonder what that makes tech?
trueblueeagle
November 17th, 2012
5:02 am
one time fla own UGA now its the other way around now UGA owns Tech now but that to will turn around.
ToeMeetsLeather
November 17th, 2012
6:54 am
“10″, you keep coming on the TECH blog and spouting off about 10 of 11. You do realize the thing that separates the two schools is that GTech is still competing the way the NCAA was originally established,. That is will true student athletes, and not just athletes housed on a campus for a few years(sometimes just a few months with some of your five star STUDENT? athletes). You can hang your hat on wins all you want. I’ll take pride in how my school still approaches it’s mission in educating young people and preparing them for a successful future any day of the week. You own the wins, we still own the integrity.
10 out of 11 supersized
November 17th, 2012
8:30 am
Who went of probation and vacated a 2009 conference championship? Your post just doesn’t hold water. We have plenty of problems on and off the field but have not had to vacate wins twice in the last 15 years like Tech. So know your facts first about your own “integrity” .
The NCAA was too harsh on you guys and I hate them but the reason they leveled you with the most recent actions was the fact they questioned the very thing you hang your hat on “integrity”. they felt you guys made a mistake but then tried to cover it up and not cooperate with them which is their número uno pet peeve because they r like the IRS but worse.
10 out of 11 supersized
November 17th, 2012
8:39 am
Might want to come up with something else there big toe. I get what you are saying and think you meant academics are harder and you are not a football factory. Harder to attract guys who just want to play a couple years and go to the NFL. I think there is validity in that but I also remember Gailey was a good recruiter and you guys put plenty of players in the league and early.
The use of the word integrity doesn’t apply though in my opinion after the 1999 scenario where you played inelegible players and vacated wins and the recent 2009 episode where the NCAA said you wouldn’t cooperate about a small infraction and had you vacate more wins. That doesn’t show integrity my man.
Supersize that order, mutt
November 17th, 2012
9:15 am
@ 10 out of 11……Tech has only had to vacate ONE game in its history—–the 2009 ACC championship game. No games were vacated in the earlier probation.
Supersize that order, mutt
November 17th, 2012
9:18 am
You want to talk about integrity……take a look at the Jan Kemp and Jim Harrick scandals at UGA. Those were incidents bringing into question the integrity of your school. An AD stupidly ignoring the demand to keep his mouth shut about an investigation and getting the program punished for it is not a question of integrity. The 1999 affair, yes, but certainly not the 2009 one.
Clyde
November 17th, 2012
10:22 am
Time to take Duke behind the woodshed.
how dare you mention the dwags
November 17th, 2012
10:26 am
and ‘integrity’ in the same paragraph ss.
you forgot to mention the fact that under vd they were on ncaa probation every 4.5 years. and lets not forget the pharmacy scandal. you know the one where they handed out the answers to the naplex or pcat exams.
i wont even mention the time that they turned the sprinklers on the jackets after a beesball win at their place. this was the same year that our guys took up a collection for one of the dwags who had a serious injury.
hey 10 out of 11
November 17th, 2012
10:39 am
we never claim to contend for the national championship ever year like the dwags do.
we are not state flagship u that every politician in the state attended and supports. tech has a hard enough time as it is without the state board of regents doing all they can to separate the two schools sports wise.
we have half of your enrollment and most of our grads move out of state
we do not even recruit in the same universe that the dwags do. top 3 average over the last 12 years and absolutely nothing to show for it. i would be willing to bet that if we switched shoes on the stars issue we would have done a whole lot more with it than you dwags.
speaking of being a bit overinflated too soon…..
” Georgia Bulldogs face Georgia Southern with one eye on SEC, BCS races ”
beat down or not where is the mention of having an eye on the gt duke game. even your own blog is dismissive of gt’s chances at beating you dwags. we may not be pigs but we do manage to find acorns now n than.
so you see 10 of 11 it is you dwags who toss around all the bravado not us techies.
GTJeff
November 17th, 2012
10:41 am
For you elitist Tech fans that think that Coach Fish Fry is the answer are delusional. This arrogan SOB is the REASON we are in such a precarious position.
Supersize that order, mutt
November 17th, 2012
10:43 am
What precarious position are we in?
5150 UOAD
November 17th, 2012
11:16 am
A Dawg from day one!
November 16th, 2012
10:02 pm
Good grief you tech people are hillarious! Three weeks ago you all were on the verge of jumping off a building.
========================================
dWags are jumping on and off bridges during every game from quarter to quarter…….get real Mutt.
5150 UOAD
November 17th, 2012
11:18 am
GTJeff…..I guess we will not be seeing you at the games then?
Oh Well your loss…
Like most of us have said with some good D talent TECH would be playing in/for the ACC CG every year and you PAUL JOHNSON Haters wouldn’t be saying a GD thing.
jeffjacket
November 17th, 2012
11:21 am
@ gtjeff
all you CPJ haters need to get over it , please do not confuse confidence with arrogance! This coach is the real deal and will be here for years to come. Look how this year has turned around , are you crazy? Do you really think this would just happen without good, strong, leadership?
GO JACKETS!!!! TO HELL WITH GA!!!
5150 UOAD
November 17th, 2012
11:23 am
Most Head Coaches are Arrogant to some extent. Saban, Meyer, V Dooley, Ross, Spurrior, Kelly, Brown…and on and on and on.
jeffjacket
November 17th, 2012
11:27 am
@GTJEFF
MAN YOU GAVE THE FIRST NAME WE SHARE A BAD RAP!!
jeffjacket
November 17th, 2012
11:29 am
@ 10 OF 11
NUMBER OF ARRESTS IN PAST 3 YEARS:
GA = 23
GA. TECH =0
NUFF SAID
Ms Susie Rottencrotch Tech admirer
November 17th, 2012
11:31 am
Good luck against Duke maggots. I have a feeling you’re going to need it.
jeffjacket
November 17th, 2012
11:34 am
please compare the comments of True Tech fans to those of the lowly mutts.
real class!
jeffjacket
November 17th, 2012
11:37 am
A wise man once said , “Lack of intelligence/facts spur slander”
5150 UOAD
November 17th, 2012
11:39 am
Mutts go home………….Who is doing the LIVE BLOG for the UGa dWags?
Can’t wait to hear the WHINING about the blocking from the first play of the game.
I guess the UGa D players will cry when/if they go to the NFL about Cut Blocking.
When some of the past articles about UGa players and fight with their girlfriends I think the D players know how to use a Cut Block..
Buzz Kill
November 17th, 2012
12:04 pm
Just keep the other team under 50 points and we should win solidly. Onward to great heights and the ACC divison championship. What a turnaround for Johnson and company??!!
5150 UOAD
November 17th, 2012
12:16 pm
Maryland vs FSU is already over…….
Eaassyy
November 17th, 2012
1:36 pm
One of the worst secondaries in the country.
doc
November 17th, 2012
1:40 pm
ken, you gone to copying my style?’
did you give up caps for your 40th?
birthday greetings!
go bees!
Reality
November 17th, 2012
7:11 pm
Some bottom line facts….
1. GA Tech is now bowl eligible with 6 wins.
2. GA Tech will be going to a bowl post season. That is for sure. Which one is to be named.
3. Beating UGA would mean nothing except State pride. It has nothing to do with the ACC championship game or with our bowl (since they are ACC contracts).
4. GA Tech may go to the ACC Championship Game. If Miami declares a self-imposed ban on post season bowls this year, the GA Tech will go.
Saban
November 17th, 2012
10:09 pm
Hope Tech beats the dwags. Of course we will lay 50 on them in the SEC championship game. By then the reverend will be in South America and some FBS school will beat the dwags in an low class bowl.