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
Sec O Verrated
November 19th, 2012
9:21 am
As a Seminole, I welcome the opportunity to play Tech. At least it’s not a rematch of an earlier game from this season.
Techster
November 19th, 2012
9:25 am
That’s embarrassing. ACC title game opportunity. We didn’t even EARN IT..
DYNAMICBIGBOY
November 19th, 2012
9:26 am
I can jusst hear CPJ now, thru my great coaching and leadership we were able to fufill our goal of playing for the ACC Championship. No other coach in history would have been able to pull this off, the BUMBLEBEES are so blesse to have me at the helm. MAKE ME GAG!!
Ahdawg
November 19th, 2012
9:27 am
I think it’s great the two major Ga. teams will be playing for their respective conference chanpionships and Ga. Southern in their division’s championship. We Dawgs got help Saturday night and you guys got help Monday morning. Good luck against FSU. Go Dawgs
Techster
November 19th, 2012
9:30 am
NOW WE WILL BE STUCK WITH PAUL JOHNSON FOR AT LEAST ANOTHER YR. F’ THAT.
Tech Fan from Savannah
November 19th, 2012
9:31 am
You get to play in the Championship game by doing what you have to do, doing it better than your opponents, and doing it legally. Tech did that this year. Congrats Jackets. I saw MTSU game, and Duke game: Thanks for letting leave on a good note! THWG! Beat the loud mouth puppies, so I can shut my son up!
Had VT one one more of their losses, would they have refused to play the ACC Champ Game?? NO! It would be nice if Duke beats Miami, but we just need to focus on playing the best we can for 3 more games, Finishing 9-5, Ruining uga’s and flawed st’s seasons, knowing we could have done better, and having a great start to next season. It would make my day to land in the top 25 for last poll of season!
hit a single
November 19th, 2012
9:32 am
The Rivalry is alive and well.
North ave. faithful
November 19th, 2012
9:32 am
Well said observer, cannot believe these leg humpers are talking about backing into a championship game. Delusional.
LOL
November 19th, 2012
9:33 am
OMG what a crock of horse manure!! Champs by default? LMAO
Larvell Blanks
November 19th, 2012
9:35 am
I can’t see the Dwags turning down an SEC title game invite with a similar record.
Me neither, but probably for a different reason.
North ave. faithful
November 19th, 2012
9:35 am
Classy post ahdawg, i agree.
Buzzy Bee
November 19th, 2012
9:36 am
Great!!! Not only is UGA going to kick our ass. Now FSU will embarrass us on nat’l TV in Charlotte. I bet we have 500 fans there tops.
LAWLZ
November 19th, 2012
9:38 am
SUCK IT, D-RAD!!!!!!
Dog Man
November 19th, 2012
9:38 am
You guys couldn’t beat Middle Tenn High School and now your boasting about the ACC title game…this is really sick…..GA and FLA State will stomp you in the ground….
The Orange Bowl Executive Comittee
November 19th, 2012
9:38 am
The execs running the Orange Bowl, are AGAIN CRINGING, about the prospects of GT playing there. Imagine a 6-6 or at best 7-6 team. Their TV ratings will be the lowest in bowl game history.
hit a single
November 19th, 2012
9:38 am
Just more reason for the Dawgs to be motivated and keep the streak going.
Stinger
November 19th, 2012
9:38 am
Wonders never cease. I’m a Tech season ticket holder, but can’t stomach paying out good money to back into an ACC champ game. Oh well.
Buddy Landel
November 19th, 2012
9:39 am
LOL at a Dwag fan talking about backing in to anything. The EASIEST SEC schedule 2 years running.
comment
November 19th, 2012
9:39 am
One thing’s for sure, FSU is going to bring a whole heck of a lot of fans. I was looking at the seating chart and wow, a lot of tickets have already been sold.
Quick Question
November 19th, 2012
9:39 am
So, if GT finishes 6-7 (after the ACC CG) are they bowl eligible?
Ed Pilcher
November 19th, 2012
9:39 am
A travesty. A 6-5 team playing for the conference title. An even bigger travesty will happen if GT wins the ACCCG and plays in a BCS bowl.
Now you GT fans need to STHU about UGA ‘backing’ into the SEC title game.
Nole13
November 19th, 2012
9:41 am
How embarrassing that an ACC team that lost at home to Middle Tennessee State 49-28 and recently got killed by BYU 41-17 is going to the championship game. Miami did the right thing, because they knew we would beat them in the championship game. Now Ga Tech will get embarrassed by us too! At least do the ACC a favor and decline ANY bowl game.
hit a single
November 19th, 2012
9:41 am
Hey stinger there is a difference in a season ticket holder and a true fan. Give me the true fan.
doc
November 19th, 2012
9:42 am
hate to put a damper onthings but how does 6-8 sound? could be and more than probable based on the prior record. not sure if this news is something to celebrate or to get ready to duck.
Stinger
November 19th, 2012
9:43 am
@Nole13,
It is what it is. Not proud of it by any means.
Dog Man
November 19th, 2012
9:44 am
Lets see the ACC will have a 6 & 6 team playing for the title – - HOW PROUD they must be!!! What a joke…
GO JACKETS
November 19th, 2012
9:44 am
I really think Vad Lee needs to be the predominant QB vs UGA. Tevin had his chance the last two tries and nothing special came out of it. If Vad plays like he did vs UNC, GT has got a great chance. Also glad we have Tanner in place. There would be no way we would win anything with the other two.
Hope Orwin will be okay. I do predict alot of scoring but as CPJ says 68 is better than 67.
Taco
November 19th, 2012
9:45 am
Ed PIlcher we ain’t gonna shut up so go tell your boyfriend to hold you and relax. UGA smells an epic fail coming and they are nervous.
poop on this
November 19th, 2012
9:46 am
tell you what a joke was, UGA losing to UCF in the Liberty Bowl. Now that was funny.
Mr Breeze
November 19th, 2012
9:46 am
The DWAG trolls can bad mouth us and take GT lightly all they want. Handling GSU easily doesn’t equate to stopping Tech. Sure, we’ll be big underdogs, but UGA will be in for a big fight…
Mr. Riley
November 19th, 2012
9:47 am
How bad is the ACC?? A team with a slightly above .500 average is in the conference championship game…LOL…..
Frankly
November 19th, 2012
9:47 am
The Truth
November 19th, 2012
8:38 am
We can be SEC and ACC champs in the same year. Go Jackets and THWG.
__________________________________________
And yet in reality you will be niether, THWGT!!!
Tyler
November 19th, 2012
9:48 am
Idiots wisconsin has 4 losses and will play and could have 5 if they lose this week.
.....
November 19th, 2012
9:48 am
tell you what a joke was, UGA losing to UCF in the Liberty Bowl. Now that was funny.
Playing Buffalo, Fl Atlantic and GSU as well as the bottom feeders in the SEC whose coaches are already fired doesn’t make you the truth of anything..too bad you have to go back to playing somebody on your schedule next yr..losers
DKG73
November 19th, 2012
9:49 am
OK, for all of the trash talking that will take place as we head into
this Saturday against UGA, here are the statistics: GT has a record of
6 and 5, UGA has a record of 10 and 1; GT’s opponents have an overall
record of 60 and 61 (Mid TN played only 10 games), UGA’s opponents
have an overall record of 59 and 61; GT has played 8 conference games
with our opponents having an overall record of 44 and 44, UGA has
played 8 conference games with their opponents having an overall
record of 45 and 43; GT has 6 opponents with a winning record (4
conference and 2 non-conference), UGA has 4 opponents with a winning
record (3 conference and 1 non-conference).
Just something to think about…
GTFan
November 19th, 2012
9:49 am
To all the dawgs fan posting on our site, shut up and get a life! You will be defeated by Bama!
Nole Gal
November 19th, 2012
9:51 am
As a Seminole fan, I’m glad we’re playing Tech for the ACC Title this year. It would be awfully boring to watch my Noles spank the Hurricanes for the second time this seasons. Go Noles!
GTFan
November 19th, 2012
9:51 am
SEC East is a joke too!!! When Bama beats UGA, all you UGA bandwagon fans will drop them like usual.
randy t
November 19th, 2012
9:53 am
uga idiots talking about records when they played two 0-7 teams plus buff fla atl and ga southern. gee that was a tough 5 wins.
swimdawg68
November 19th, 2012
9:53 am
What a joke, “Trade School Boys” headed to the ACC title game with a 6-6 record (after we dismantle them). Talk about “backing-in”. It really says The ACC has only one real good team FSU and possibly Clemson. FSU will destroy Tech and send them to some “poopy” bowl which is all they deserve anyway.
I can’t wait to see our offense against that defense of Tech’s that gave up 49 points to Middle Tenn. and 41 points to Brigham Young. Wow!! it will be ugly on Sat. for the “Dirt Daubers”. Murray, Gurley, Marshall and company will have a field day.
Hulk
November 19th, 2012
9:54 am
You dawg fans are a bunch of hypocrites…to no ones surprise I might add. To sit here and make fun of Tech and saying that they shouldn’t go to the championship game, or bowl because it was “handed to them”, shows how clueless you are. So I guess by your logic everyone else that is a college football fan at this point should say UGA wouldn’t even have a shot at a national title right now because Ohio State is undefeated, but they have sanctions just like Miami does. So if ND goes undefeated…Ohio State goes undefeated…and the Dawgs beat Bama well then the dawgs simply shouldn’t go the championship game because it was “handed” to them. Give me a break. Tech deserves what they have. For a fan base that always talks about how dominate they are and how “great” they are there sure are a bunch of haters out there.
mansup
November 19th, 2012
9:55 am
It is amazing just how envious the UGA commentors are. Granted, Tech will probably lose to both UGA and FSU. (unless UGA key players are arrested, in jail, or suspended for something, of course) But, who cares? Go Jackets!
Doug Sahm
November 19th, 2012
9:56 am
This will only fuel the push to have the ACC’s automatic BCS bid revoked. A team that got blown out by Middle Tennessee State and BYU is playing in the championship game?? How much lower can a conference get?
Way To Go
November 19th, 2012
9:57 am
Tech can’t make it to a BCS bowl even if they beat FSU. FSU will still have the higher BCS ranking. Wishful thinking as always from you guys. But HEY! wishes can come true. Just look at how you lucked in to the ACC Championship.
Tampa Wreck
November 19th, 2012
9:58 am
This year, I would trade a win against the dawgs for a chance at the ACC championship game in a heartbeat. Hope the young men can keep it level and perform to their capabilities on Saturday.
Only after that should we even discuss the ACC championship game or a bowl.
hahahaha
November 19th, 2012
9:59 am
Way to go Jackets! You’ve earned it, what with your stellar season and all. Wait, what’s that? You DIDN’T earn it, but you’re still bragging? OOOOHHHHKKKKK, see ya Saturday for the fish fry!
Supersize that order, mutt
November 19th, 2012
10:00 am
@ Way To Go…….WRONG!!! The conference champion goes to the BCS bowl, no matter what conference, and no matter what the BCS ranking.
mansup
November 19th, 2012
10:01 am
Hey UGA folks! If UGA loses one more game, will you still want to fire Richt? And will Bobo the clown still be an awful play caller? UGA fans have short memories.
Supersize that order, mutt
November 19th, 2012
10:04 am
There are some awfully insecure mutts posting on here today. Trash talk like what has been seen here so far today is a prime example of a lack of confidence in your own self-worth turning you into a cowardly bully. Kudos to the few REAL UGA fans who have made constructive, or at least partially constructive posts on here this morning, but to the haters, posers, cowards, and trolls…..THW YOU and THWG !!!!! GO JACKETS !!!
GTDog
November 19th, 2012
10:04 am
Wow, I really didn’t expect Miami to vacate! Puts me in a good spot, since I obviously have split loyalty here. Here goes…
1. Congrats, you guys kept fighting and made your season count.
2. Gotta pull for my number one team this week, that’s UGA.
3. Good luck to Tech in the ACC Championship.
4. Fellow Bulldog fans, can you please take your arses back to the UGA blogs, you’re embarassing the rest of Bulldog Nation…..