UPDATE: No Miami decision leaves Tech in limbo
UPDATE, 7:23 p.m. – Sunday could have been the day that Georgia Tech earned a spot in the ACC championship game. Instead, it was just a day to recuperate and to merely begin planning for the showdown with Georgia.
At his weekly Sunday news conference, Miami coach Al Golden said he had not been informed of his school’s decision regarding a postseason ban in the face of pending NCAA sanctions. Tech will play in the ACC championship game against Florida State Dec. 1 in Charlotte if Miami pulls itself out of the postseason for a second consecutive year. It is unclear how long Miami can take to announce its decision.
As of late Sunday evening, no official word had come from the school’s administration.
“I learned a long time not to worry about things I can’t control,” coach Paul Johnson said after the Yellow Jackets’ 42-24 win over Duke, a victory that earned Tech no worse than a share of the Coastal Division championship.
Miami earned bowl eligibility Saturday with a win over South Florida. Golden told reporters that the lack of an announcement may stem from the impact of last year’s announcement after the 11th game of the season, a day after the Hurricanes became bowl eligible. Miami lost the season finale to Boston College. Golden said Sunday “there’s no question” the timing of the self-imposed ban affected the team’s motivation.
Miami is facing a gamble with its decision. Should the school decide to play in the postseason and beat Duke, it will play against in-state rival Florida State for the Hurricanes’ first-ever ACC championship. But if it makes that decision, it’s possible Miami could receive a postseason ban of one or more years from the NCAA in the future when the team could be even stronger.
Miami also runs the risk of excessive self-sanctions with a second consecutive bowl ban, although NCAA compliance experts believe that the Hurricanes are due a multi-year bowl ban after allegations of millions of dollars of impermissible benefits, some with coaches’ knowledge and participation.
Even if Miami doesn’t self-impose, the Jackets can reach Charlotte via the old-fashioned method. If the Blue Devils beat the Hurricanes, Tech will win the Coastal with a better record than the Hurricanes. Tech could still tie with North Carolina at 5-3, but the Tar Heels are already ineligible for NCAA misdeeds of their own. Miami-Duke starts at 12:30 p.m. Saturday, 30 minutes after the kickoff Tech-Georgia, which could mean a busy afternoon of channel flipping for Tech fans.
“They’ve got another game to play,” Johnson said of the Hurricanes. “That (Duke) crowd we played today is tough. They played hard. They compete. I don’t think they are going to roll over.”
Duke coach David Cutcliffe, who has led the Blue Devils to bowl eligibility for the first time since 1994, will have to rally a team that Saturday saw its ACC title hopes dashed at Bobby Dodd Stadium.
“It’s too significant a year to not prepare and play well against Miami,” Cutcliffe said. “Our seniors are 5-1 in Wallace Wade (Stadium). I’m telling you, that’s hugely significant. We need to go prepare starting (Sunday) night like a team that intends to win.”
With uncertainty hanging over its head, Tech needs similar intent. Tech opened as a 14-point underdog Sunday to the Bulldogs, ranked No. 3 in both polls and winners of 10 of the past 11 games in the series. The topic was addressed in the locker room following Tech’s win over Duke.
“Everyone knew that next week was going to be the biggest game of the year for us,” said A-back Robbie Godhigh, who scored multiple touchdowns for the second game in a row. “We’re just ready to go out there and fight.”
Ken Sugiura, Georgia Tech blog
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
138 comments Add your comment
Curious
November 18th, 2012
7:19 pm
GT Fan base -
Good luck on winning the Coastal and playing for the league. I watched some of the game v Duke and was surprised given the resurgence that the place seemed half empty on the ESPNU broadcast.
I do a lot of business with Tech grads so bought a season ticket package for several years. We just couldn’t seem to generate interest in getting customers to use them or go with us. In fact, giving them away was work.
Why when your team obviously has shown resilience can you not get fans to attend? Its a great venue and the games are entertaining. Seems odd to me.
Cheer for you and support you 24-7-364…..not Saturday. Cheers!
Reebok
November 18th, 2012
7:24 pm
I like Duke’s chances of beating Miami on Saturday a lot more than our chances of beating Georgia. But I guess that’s why you play the games…Tech CAN score, so there’s hope…
dry dirt road
November 18th, 2012
7:25 pm
listen, I believe Tech can beat Georgia; Tech needs Orwin Smith back to do that, they need the sissies that are afraid of flu shots back like Cross; poor ol’ Scully must have been a scholarship player and he has to warm the bench now, continuing to receive a scholarship; dropping Groh and Radikovich have been the winning impetus apparently, why I believe Georgia can be beaten even in Athens, actually very easily since Tech is on a roll
just the truth
November 18th, 2012
7:25 pm
My four rules for being a REAL fan
1. You went to that school
2. Had a kid to go to that school
3. Your a season ticket holder to the school
4. You donate annually to the school.
All others are band wagoners and thoughts are for your enjoyment only.
Ken Sugiura
November 18th, 2012
7:27 pm
AlabamaRW and Spider – I’ve talked to a few people that I would think would know if anyone knows, but they didn’t. This obviously isn’t a situation that comes up a lot.
Willy – thanks. I appreciate it.
Tech1986
November 18th, 2012
7:36 pm
@spider not sure what game you went to yesterday, but 198 yards passing is not going up and down the field on us. We had 4 sacks plent of pressure on Renfree. Defense gave up 24 points, so again I wonder if you watched the Dawg game from the Cesspool of the south. Go Jackets!, THWG!!
Supersize that order, mutt
November 18th, 2012
7:53 pm
@ spider……I want to echo what Tech1986 said. We had FOUR sacks on Renfree and they were not all in the 4th quarter. We also held them to ONE TD in the second half. I don’t believe you when you say you were at the game.
GTFANINPA
November 18th, 2012
8:00 pm
One thing people seem to be over looking is our special teams put the “D” on short fields most of the day- I may be drinking the kool-aid but this team is starting to find the rhythm on offense and IF the Jackets play as they have the last two games the mutts will be in for a game!!!! THWG!
Oger
November 18th, 2012
8:00 pm
NNNNNNNNNNNEEEEEEEEEEEEEERRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRDDDDDDDDDDDDDDSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSS!!!!!!!!!!!
George Stein
November 18th, 2012
8:02 pm
I really want to believe we will beat UGA, but I still don’t. I will, however, be at the game and root like hell for my school.
GTFANINPA
November 18th, 2012
8:05 pm
@Oger…..Fat, dumb, and stupid is no way to go through life!
Supersize that order, mutt
November 18th, 2012
8:13 pm
@ GTFANINPA…..it is if you’re a fat, dumb and stupid butt-sniffing mutt. What other option does he have?
CPJ4ever
November 18th, 2012
8:14 pm
You know what? Trailor trash uga fans became what they are because they bandwagon with all their inbred family. I’m a proud tech fan that has taken a lot of ish over the years. I’m a tech fan Bc I know my team is classy and not a bunch of rude and trashy uga fans who probly only watch half the games. Give em hell tech and THWG! !!!!!
White&Gold
November 18th, 2012
8:16 pm
George Stein, if you have the time watch the first half of UGA’s game against Georgia Southern and then you will believe that they are beatable. Southern had nearly 150 yards rushing in the first half. They drove down the field about three times. They’re beatable. Defense just needs to step up.
WONDERING
November 18th, 2012
8:18 pm
Wondering, who are you and why are you using my handle? Cut it out screwball.
GT Fan Man
November 18th, 2012
8:21 pm
Look at the dwags schedule….somebody(probably not GT) is going to kick their butts!!!
Talk about being over-rated!!!!!!
GTFANINPA
November 18th, 2012
8:22 pm
Can’t argue with you on that Super
Dawg Fan
November 18th, 2012
8:32 pm
jeffjacket you like Tech’s chances? Vegas has you 14 point Dawgs and they’re being generous. Your out-manned at almost every position. I like the Attache kid but outside of him it’s not looking good. You’ll need Georgia to give you about 4 turnovers to have a chance. UGA is stout up front and speed to burn on the outside. Just keeping it real.
White&Gold
November 18th, 2012
8:35 pm
Attache? For now on, don’t trust your guy on spelling. BTW, KSU was exceptional favorites against Baylor this week. Vegas’ lines don’t mean anything. You guys also have been known to turn the ball over a lot.
5150 UOAD
November 18th, 2012
8:44 pm
The VEGAS Line is about getting even money or as close to even money on both sides of the betting line.
Aaron Murray is my b-tch
November 18th, 2012
8:46 pm
45-42 AGAIN!!!
DawgNole
November 18th, 2012
8:48 pm
Coming up–if FSU is your ACCCG opponent–are the only two games Tech plays that see me pulling against the Jackets. As for the ACCCG, I surely do hope it’s Noles vs Jackets. Haven’t forgotten those last two we played–both close, painful losses for FSU.
Dawg Fan
November 18th, 2012
8:51 pm
45-42….did you thank Georgia for the 4 turnovers.
Brandon Sears
November 18th, 2012
8:51 pm
How about some journalistic integrity. All it would take is a quick scan to tell you that, its not millions of dollars in benefits. Disinformation like this is just a disgrace by a so called journalist.
Archibald Leach
November 18th, 2012
8:54 pm
Hey Ken, any word on Orwin Smith’s health? Didnt he leave the game saturday because of an injury?
Jacket Man
November 18th, 2012
8:59 pm
My understanding is they have to announce by noon tomorrow, and have just said there will be a press conference.
Jacket Time
November 18th, 2012
9:03 pm
@just the truth… Uhhhhh way to alienatethe majority of the gt fan base. You enjoy ur thoughts buddy.
Yes we will need some things to go our way but who cares as long as we have more pts on the scoreboard. I see the jealous puppy trolls are out in full force today. Dwags are goin down!!!!!!
Brandon Sears
November 18th, 2012
9:04 pm
@jacket man
Nothing like that coming from the Miami side.
ToeMeetsLeather
November 18th, 2012
9:11 pm
Me thinks once the nadlickers get a full quarter of Division I cut blocks they’ll be protecting the NFL goods for the rest of the day. We may set a rushing record in the cesspool on Saturday. Of course we may have a passing record set against us. Maybe we will work in a pick six and Golden will take one to the house as equalizers. We’ll have to win the turnover battle and keep the play in front of us all day to have a shot, All doable things. Maybe the ball will bounce our way for a change in the season ending game.THWG
Jacket Man
November 18th, 2012
9:34 pm
Branden, I just heard it from a very reliable source.
Jacket Man
November 18th, 2012
9:35 pm
Sorry about that Brandon!
Chuck Allison
November 18th, 2012
9:36 pm
We Tech fans know we don’t really deserve to play in a championship game this year, but we will play if we get the opportunity just like we will go to a bowl if one wants us. Why? Because we need the practice and experience too badly to say no. Truth is that we should have beaten Miami without going to OT, but our defense disappeared.
Our young players are getting better and someday our coach may get interested in defense. We can’t pay 2.5 million per year for just an offensive coordinator much longer.
1 4 GT
November 18th, 2012
9:42 pm
I have heard many folks talking about Georgie since the ride home from the game last night. Both on the radio & in person. The talk I heard centered around which team can win the SECCG & get a MNC shot. Georgie or Alabamalamadingdong. With a foregone conclusion that one of them would play for the MNC. Nary a mention of Georgie must beat Tech first. That is a common foregone conclusion too. Attitudes can be contagious. Let the overconfidence prevail. I will not mention it again. I suggest no Tech fan mentions it either. Selah.
DawgNole
November 18th, 2012
9:49 pm
1 4 GT
November 18th, 2012
9:42 pm
I have heard many folks talking about Georgie since the ride home from the game last night. Both on the radio & in person. The talk I heard centered around which team can win the SECCG & get a MNC shot. Georgie or Alabamalamadingdong. With a foregone conclusion that one of them would play for the MNC. Nary a mention of Georgie must beat Tech first. That is a common foregone conclusion too. Attitudes can be contagious. Let the overconfidence prevail. I will not mention it again. I suggest no Tech fan mentions it either. Selah.
________________
Overconfidence and complacency figure to be UGA’s biggest enemies this weekend–and Bama’s biggest next weekend.
Naperville Jacket
November 18th, 2012
10:09 pm
We play for championships based upon the college football rules. I do not believe someone who does not win their division can win a National Championship, but we have seen them play for it. Miami played Nebraska in 2002: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2002_Rose_Bowl
This year, we played by the rules and if we go to the championship game and win it, we deserve the Orange Bowl. And I will be there from Illinois like I was in their in 2010.
Kickin it with Cremins
November 18th, 2012
10:24 pm
No disrespect to Orwin, he definitely carried the team at times last year. but imho, I think we’ve had more players step up this year (esp. the last 3-4 games) to help display the dynamics of the TO.
Red Black
November 18th, 2012
10:31 pm
uga 37
gt 10
Kickin it with Cremins
November 18th, 2012
10:33 pm
@Curious
thanks for the support & you can always send those extras my way!
buzzzzzz
November 18th, 2012
10:41 pm
I would like to officially begin the ‘Muscle Hamster’ type nickname contest for 5′-7″ 188lb Robert Goghigh. READY! SET! GO!
buzzzzzz
November 18th, 2012
10:43 pm
Of course I meant Godhigh….
buzzzzzz
November 18th, 2012
10:48 pm
How about Dwyer and Anthony Allen both making plays in this game tonight?!
Curious
November 18th, 2012
10:53 pm
@ Kickin it…Happy to send ‘em…now can you talk one of my kids into applying? Best educational value in the country and a great place too! Can’t get them interested either. Good luck the rest of the way.
I love Jan Kemp
November 18th, 2012
10:54 pm
Sounds to me like “th U” has already made their decision so GO DUKE!!! If that pitiful UVA can beat em,then ANYone can.Tech just needs to focus on the Dawggies and not worry about anything else.Hard to believe this “Sugar Daddy Shapiro” news broke almost TWO seasons ago and STILL no NCAA decision!Guess they’re too busy trying to figure out if somebody sent one too many text messages to some highschool kid to bother.Would be poetic justice if Duke beat em,gonna be easy pulling for a class act like Coach Cutcliffe.
BW
November 18th, 2012
10:59 pm
At 6-6, GT would be at the low level of my expectations this year. Swap out the Uva and MTSU games, and it would be exactly how I would have envisioned the worst case scenario. The MTSU game was clearly a case of a team in crisis internally. And the fact that the VT and Miami games were so close shows just how close the team was to being 8-3 or 9-2 at this point, which would have been what I would have hoped for. The tough games for GT this year were VT, Uva, Miami, Clemson, UNC, BYU, and Uga. A good year would be 3-4 or 4-3 against these teams. A great year would be 5-2 or better. The MTSU loss is a function of team dysfunction. Basically, you look at those 7 games and GT could have gone anywhere from 0-7 to 7-0 against them. More likely, GT would go 2-5 up to 5-2. Do that and GT is going to have 7 to 10 wins this year. The MTSU loss took GT down 1 win from the general low expectation. But all things considered, GT could be looking at 5-7 had they lost the 7 tough games as predicted at the beginning of the year. GT is hairs away from being 8-3 right now, and that’s what we need to focus on. The team is so close to being a top 25 team, and they need to focus on winning each game one at a time, as cliche as that sounds. What I want to see is CPJ open up the playbook against Uga. I want to see Vad/Tevin running the read option from the shotgun. I want to see Vad/Tevin throwing passes from the shotgun. I want to see Vad or Tevin being allowed to make multiple reads at the line of scrimmage. I want to see 1 back sets with receivers coming across the middle of the field. I want to see the no huddle/hurry up offense. All of these things have been used this year, and I want to see GT use all of it against Uga. I do not want to see Tevin playing the role of game manager in a tight game in the first half. GT needs to come out and make a statement and if it doesn’t work, it doesn’t work. GT is going to have to score points quickly to get in Uga’s head, and they can’t do that if they are trying to do the let’s ram the 3O down the opponent’s throat game plan, because Uga will stop them. So as not to ignore the D, the D needs to play with purpose. Get in the heads of the Uga blockers! Do not let Uga dictate the pace of play when they are on offense! The D needs to step up and play the role of shocker. The O will be ok, but the D needs to play lights out. And if the O plays lights out, this can be a big win. I want to see the GT team be fired up from 00:00 to 60:00. No lulls.Give up a TD? No worries, we’re gonna come back and destroy them next time! This is the mindset that needs to happen!
Supersize that order, mutt
November 18th, 2012
11:11 pm
@ BW…..well put….VERY WELL PUT !!!!
GT Fan
November 18th, 2012
11:12 pm
The following is the most intelligent post ESPN’s Heather Dinich has ever posted:
Who programmed “overrated” into the computers this year? There’s no way Georgia and Florida are THAT much better than the ACC’s top two teams — if they even are better at all. Florida State has a chance to prove that this weekend, when the Noles host the rival Gators in the final game of the regular season. On second thought, Florida’s unwarranted ascension in the BCS standings might be the best thing to happen to FSU because if they win on Saturday, it will carry even more significance.
A shakeup in the standings was expected this weekend after Oregon and Kansas State both lost, but the rapid promotion of the SEC East comes as a surprise while the ACC maintained its status quo. Florida beat Jacksonville State. FSU won on the road to clinch the ACC’s Atlantic Division. Georgia overcame a slow start to beat Georgia Southern, not to be confused with Georgia Tech.
The SEC is rewarded for beating up on the little guys while the ACC is penalized for it.
buzzzzzz
November 18th, 2012
11:12 pm
How about Iron Squirrel?
GT Fan
November 18th, 2012
11:17 pm
When it comes to choosing their CHAMPION, either every other division of College football, and the NFL, have got it wrong, or D-1/FBS has it wrong.
The NFL might have to scrap the playoffs and go to the more popular (and correct) system of having old guys in suits pick who their Champion will be. Yeah, riiiiiiiiight.
The BCS is becoming more & more of a joke the more they “control” CFB.
BW
November 18th, 2012
11:17 pm
@ BW…..well put….VERY WELL PUT !!!!
Thanks supersize. I don’t post often, but when I do, it’s booze inspired, and hopefully factually inspired as well.
1 4 GT
November 18th, 2012
11:18 pm
How about “Mighty Mite” instead of “Muscle Hamster”??? or “Mouse”?