Miami self-imposes, Tech headed to ACC title game
It took a second-half resurgence, the fallout of a booster gone wild and Virginia Tech’s worst season since 1992, but Georgia Tech is going to the ACC championship game.
A day after most expected the decision to be made public, Miami announced Monday morning that it will self-impose a postseason bowl ban in anticipation of NCAA sanctions in the wake of an investigation into allegations that Hurricanes booster Nevin Shapiro provided players with thousands of impermissible benefits with the knowledge of coaches. The ACC does not allow bowl-ineligible teams to compete for the ACC championship. As a result, Tech will play Florida State for its third ACC title Dec. 1 in Charlotte. Kickoff will either be 7:45 or 8 p.m., depending on the broadcast outlet, either ABC or ESPN.
The Yellow Jackets’ 42-24 win over Duke Saturday at Bobby Dodd Stadium turned out to be the clincher. Tech’s 5-3 league record cannot be matched by any bowl-eligible team in the Coastal Division.
It is a stunning turn of events. Oct. 6, Tech fell to 2-4 overall and 1-3 in the ACC with its third consecutive loss, to Clemson by a 47-31 score. It was the third consecutive game in which the Jackets had allowed 40-plus points, a first in the team’s history. The dismissal of defensive coordinator Al Groh followed two days later.
With division losses at that point already to the Hokies and Hurricanes, Tech’s shot at Charlotte was still mathematically alive, but that seemed about it. For Tech to reach the ACC title game would likely require Virginia Tech to lose four conference games, something the Hokies hadn’t done since joining the ACC in 2004. It would seem to have also required the Hurricanes, whose possible bowl ban had yet to surface, to do likewise.
The Hokies lost to North Carolina to drop to 1-1 that day, and then after beating Duke Oct. 13, lost three consecutive games to drop to 2-4 in the league to give the Yellow Jackets a second chance. Virginia Tech has not had a three-game since 2002. Tech has since remained perfect in the league, defeating Boston College, Maryland, North Carolina and Duke with a loss to BYU mixed in.
It is coach Paul Johnson’s second appearance in the ACC title game in his five years at Tech. Were the Jackets to defeat Florida State – Tech will almost certainly be a heavy underdog to the 10-1 Seminoles – Johnson would become the only coach in school history to win two ACC titles. (The first, in 2009, was vacated by the NCAA as a result of impermissible benefits violations.)
The news sets up an interesting week in the state of Georgia. For the first time, both Georgia and Tech will be playing in their respective conference championship games in the same season. While the game carries heavy meaning, both teams will be playing for more in a week’s time. The Bulldogs may be playing for a spot in the national championship game. Tech will have a spot in the Orange Bowl on the line, a remarkable prize for a season that started so auspiciously.
Johnson may have to make a decision on A-back Orwin Smith, who suffered an ankle injury in the second half of Saturday’s game. After the game, Johnson said he didn’t know if Smith would be available for the Georgia game.
The Tech ticket office will likely make information available soon. Tickets are also available at the ACC’s championship game site here.
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485 comments Add your comment
CRyan12
November 19th, 2012
8:51 am
Congratulations you guys have a crappy season but find a way to the Average Coastal Conference Championship! Hope your ready to get embarassed this weekend..again!
As I said last week...
November 19th, 2012
8:51 am
….the UGA game is shaping up just like 2009, when Tech had their “best team” and UGA stunk, yet UGA went into BDS and won – that same seems to be happening this year only the other way around…
spider
November 19th, 2012
8:51 am
its COMEDY WEEK…I just love reading the vent and blogs the week of GT-UGA game.
Mark Richt
November 19th, 2012
8:52 am
What a weak league,Really Tech in the ACC Champ game weak weak. If I was Maryland I wpould leave too.
Buckeye
November 19th, 2012
8:52 am
Enter your comments here
lance manion
November 19th, 2012
8:52 am
I agree, Coach Johnson is exactly the right guy for Tech. We are always a little under-manned, but his teams keep fighting. I find it interesting that so many haters post on a Tech blog, but I suppose they just can’t stand the fact that the lilttle technical institute up on North Avenue always finds a way to matter. No, I doubt we beat UGA and maybe not FSU, but you gotta get to the game to have a chance. Couple this with the resurgence of a great basketball program and things are looking great. This is a great day to be a Yellow Jacket!!
Buckeye
November 19th, 2012
8:52 am
GO JACKETS! BEAT dogs.
alex
November 19th, 2012
8:52 am
I have been to 2 games, this is not much of a team, that being said-it isn’t Techs fault that the ACC is so bad in football. Does anyone take the ACC serious in football?
Caleb King
November 19th, 2012
8:53 am
I would rather be a bug than a thug!!!!!!
spider
November 19th, 2012
8:53 am
hey dawg fans, tech will show up satruday, i sure coach johnson works very hard on pass defense this week or murray will have a field day.
Buddy Landel
November 19th, 2012
8:53 am
Imagine the Dwag fans coming on the Tech boards if GT beats FSU and when Bama slaps UGA back to reality.
heisman
November 19th, 2012
8:54 am
Ray Beno for Heisman
spider
November 19th, 2012
8:55 am
amen buckeye..BEAT MICHIGAN
Montylick&ass
November 19th, 2012
8:55 am
Good lord, how sad for the ACC. A 6-6 team in the ACCCG with a blowout home loss to a FCS team on its resume, both teams in the ACCCG (and the only other ranked ACC team probably coming off of losses to mid-level SEC teams), and the possivbility of sending an unranked 7-6 team to a BCS bowl as the ACC representative! Tech should self-ban for being 6-6, or the ACC should “vacate” the ACC Coastal title for this year and just let FDSU win the title (or play a rematch with Clemson). What this means is that the ACC will likely NOT get any consideration for automatic inclusion in any future BCS or playoff arrangments. Not to mention we will be stuck with CPJ for another few years on the “strength” of his ACC Coastal “win”.
North ave. faithful
November 19th, 2012
8:55 am
Dawg 4 life, kind of like the one yaill are backing into this year and last year.
BishopAlex
November 19th, 2012
8:56 am
Who would have thought it could happen!!! Go Jackets finsh strong!!!
spider
November 19th, 2012
8:56 am
been watching football for over 60 years and ray beno’s pass catch was one of the greatest and funniest football plays i have ever seen.
AtlantaSeminole
November 19th, 2012
8:57 am
GT is the last team I wanted to face – I would have rather had UM or Duke…GT is a bit scary if they get rolling offensively.
But pulling for GT to take out UGA while we take out UF – ND to lose to USC, and then us to beat GT in ACC title game to go to the BCS as #1 or #2!
Sugarpikegang
November 19th, 2012
8:58 am
Do it! Go Jackets! 9 and 6 would be just fine now!
Caleb King
November 19th, 2012
8:59 am
Bugs vs Thugs Bowl this saturday
CMS
November 19th, 2012
8:59 am
Stay focused Tech. You actually have a puncher’s chance in winning at UGA and the ACC champ game. From a UGA fan who is expecting you lose to the dawgs, I actually respect the fact that you guys didn’t quit on your coach or your season.
spider
November 19th, 2012
9:00 am
ray beno will remember that play for ever, it was a classic and that is what college football should really be about, not all this bickering and bcs crap.
Geomatsr
November 19th, 2012
9:01 am
On my office wall still hangs the 2008 GT calendar…and the image of Joe Andai frozen in time…November 29 was indeed a cold n rainy day for any Dawg. Maybe this is the year I get to change out the calendar … only will happen when Tech beats UGA again. And for the folks who remain uninspired… Coach Johnson is the cream of the crop. BCS Championship….no… but a helluva good program with alot of excitement at the premier school of the South? Hellyeah!!!
Montylick&ass
November 19th, 2012
9:02 am
Whatever poor network is stuck with the Orange Bowl this year will be answering calls 24/7 from sponsors trying to get their money back if Tech managed to beat FSU. (Face it, the whole league sucks, so Tech has as good a chance as anybody, and FSU played a powder-puff schedule.) The BCS can “reward” some BCS-busting team with a trip to the Orange Bowl to play an unranked Tech team with six losses.
George Stein
November 19th, 2012
9:03 am
What a wild season. We have a shot to wash away all the disappointment from VT, Miami, MTSU, and BYU. I hope our boys take advantage of their second chance.
michael
November 19th, 2012
9:03 am
remember guys, what’s the thinking if duke upsets miami at home?? we’d go anyway. 6-7 or 8-5, it’s the teams decision to kick bulldog booty and to shoot down the indians.
Dawg'88
November 19th, 2012
9:04 am
So let me get this straight….this is good for Tech?
Back into a championship game because of a poor division that is led by a banned team.
Back into a certain routed loss to FSU.
Lose to UGA….again (1-10 vs UGA with Coach Richt).
Finish 6-7 (a losing record).
Go to a lousy bowl….a win gets them to 7-7 and a loss to 6-8.
Yippee….happy times. Whatever floats the old boat.
Think 6:09 circa 2002.
Nativebird
November 19th, 2012
9:05 am
Doesn’t matter. Our Yellow jackets head coach is a joke and a disaster….and Georgia will certainly prove that next Saturday. My Jackets will lose by 3 touchdowns at least on Saturday, and by 4 on December 1st against FsU. I will officially start the new GT in-stadium fan cheer…okay altogether now…”WIZ – EN – HUNT…WIZ – EN – HUNT!”
Montylick&ass
November 19th, 2012
9:05 am
Wow, I just realized…we now have a chance for an eight-loss season. We are 6-5 now, and should lose the next two, and ALWAYS lose our bowl game, so there you go! How great will THAT feel, all you CPJ lovers?
tooltime432
November 19th, 2012
9:06 am
Ken, When you find anything out,coud you give us an update on Orwin? I think both of these games will be tough sledding if he’s not 100%
TCFATL
November 19th, 2012
9:06 am
ESPN announced that this is the first time an F1 conference title contender will likely play its bowl on blue turf in December …
Miami steps aside, and Georgia Tech plays for the ACC title | Mark Bradley
November 19th, 2012
9:07 am
[...] play in a bowl is now bound for the ACC championship game. Georgia Tech learned this morning that Miami has decided to forgo postseason play, thereby handing the Coastal Division to the Yellow Jackets, who started 1-3 in league play and who [...]
reggie
November 19th, 2012
9:07 am
Be sure to put a back door on your divisional ring so you don’t forget how you got there.
George Stein
November 19th, 2012
9:07 am
It’s a little early on a Monday for trolling, wouldn’t you say, Montylick?
Dawg'88
November 19th, 2012
9:08 am
This is good for Tech?
Back into a championship game because of a division of bad teams that is led by a banned team.
Back into a certain blowout loss to FSU.
Lose to UGA….again (1-10 vs UGA with Coach Richt).
Finish 6-7 (a losing record).
Go to a lousy bowl….a win gets them to 7-7 and a loss to 6-8.
Yippee….happy times. Whatever floats the old boat.
Think 6:09 circa 2002.
George Stein
November 19th, 2012
9:10 am
Apparently it’s not too early to be trolling. Lots are out on a Monday morning. This should be pleasant.
michael
November 19th, 2012
9:10 am
9-5
TCFATL
November 19th, 2012
9:11 am
BREAKING NEWS: Georgia Tech seeded #9 in the GHSA Class A playoffs …
Fair n Balanced
November 19th, 2012
9:11 am
Enter your comments here
Vett
November 19th, 2012
9:11 am
MIRACLE!! SO HAPPY! GOOO JACKETS, THWg! http://www.rcsoatl.com/2012/11/congrats-georgia-tech.html
hit a single
November 19th, 2012
9:12 am
Boy college football is really messed up this year. A team that is 6 and 5 going to a championship game. The Dawgs get blown out by SC and may play for an NC. Hey I am a Dawg fan but you have to give Tech and the Dawgs credit for not quitting and give both Head Coaches alot of credit. And both have really received their criticism but both have done a great job and both instituitions are lucky to have both of them because they will always compete.
Fair n Balanced
November 19th, 2012
9:13 am
Awkward!!!!!! Tech could play in a BCS bowl with a record of 7-6. Or another bowl with a record of 6 – 7.
Crazy Robert
November 19th, 2012
9:13 am
Still want Duke to beat Miami. Need TECH to beat UGA and UGA beat Bama; and of course TECH beat FSU!!! That will upset the SEC applecart a little bit.
Fair n Balanced
November 19th, 2012
9:14 am
I agree with “hit a single”.
Flak Jacket
November 19th, 2012
9:15 am
SEC has had 6 win team,Arkansas being one i know of in SEC championship game.Troll on mutts.Make sure you have your Sanford Stadium Chop block ref with you Saturday in the red zone.
clay
November 19th, 2012
9:17 am
I don’t know why tech fans are so happy. All this does is sure up PJ’s job for another few years. Its very clear he needs to go, but if you all are happy about 6-6 or 7-5 every year then by all means. He is your guy. If I were a Tech fan I don’t think I would be happy with average, because by comments made on the AJC Tech fans seem like they take a lot of pride in their program and they should not be satisfied with average or mediocrity.
Tyler
November 19th, 2012
9:17 am
Alabama’s best team couldn’t even hang w an nfl team you idiot. They would lose by 6 tds at least.
Flak Jacket
November 19th, 2012
9:19 am
Also Arkansas got hammered by USC 70 to3 in a bowl game.
observer
November 19th, 2012
9:19 am
Any uga puke saying Tech in the title game is a joke should take a look at the mighty SEC and the uga joke of a schedule. Looks like Texas A&M is the best team in the league, and they are actually a Big 12 team. uga has played 2 teams with a pulse. They lost by 4 TD’s to SC, and barely squeeked by a FL team that has no offense. That great FL team needed a last second punt return to beat LA Monroe. So who are the great SEC teams?
Jacket For Life
November 19th, 2012
9:20 am
Congrats to a great bunch of players who have refused to quit! This team has a ton of character and it will show in the next two games! Proud to be a Yellow Jacket!