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
GTDog
November 19th, 2012
11:09 am
Hey, hey 5150….long time, no chat!
Glad to see you’re cleaning up the language there, exchanging U for P. Clever. How’s the Environmental Beautification biz treating you these days?
Consider this...
November 19th, 2012
11:09 am
And stop with the schedule talk GT folks. If we are 10-1 with a schedule that includes 8 SEC schools, could you imagine what we would do with your schedule? You are 6-5 with one of the weakest schedules out there. As for being overrated, I remember an 11-1 GT team a few years back (to remind you, the one was to UGA, who was at the tail end of an 8-5 season) that was talked about as being one of the best in the country…that’s right, that team got smoked in their bowl game and had the season scratched due to NCAA violations. Funny how all the overrated talk was nonsense for you guys back then, but it’s a-OK and dead on when UGA is the potential 11-1 team with an SEC championship game remaining. Yeah, if we beat #2 (at the time – still #4) Florida, #2 Bama and #1 Notre Dame, we will be the most overrated National Champions of all time. Give me a break…the Dawgs have earned this record and their shot at the SEC and then, if they win, a NC.
GSU 80
November 19th, 2012
11:12 am
lmao if Tech wrecks the puppies and the semiholes………………………..ha ha ha
Consider this...
November 19th, 2012
11:12 am
@ Coastal Champs…yeah, those voices in your head. Not gonna happen dude.
Will Tech Beat GA?
November 19th, 2012
11:12 am
You got to be kidding me?
Big Dog 89
November 19th, 2012
11:13 am
Techies,
Prepared to be beaten like a yard dog on Saturday.
UGA 56 GT 14.
The ACC is a joke.
After losing to UGA and Florida State, GT will be playing in the Beef O’Brady’s St. Petersburg Bowl.
That's why they play the game
November 19th, 2012
11:13 am
The 15-1 Green Bay Packers sat at home last year while the 9-7 New York Giants won the Super Bowl.
White&Gold
November 19th, 2012
11:14 am
ACC! ACC! ACC! ACC! ACC! ACC!
Big Dog 89
November 19th, 2012
11:15 am
Early odd makers …UGA by 13
That's why they play the game
November 19th, 2012
11:16 am
The Coastal Champs go to Athens and upset the Dawg Nation.
The Bees Are Buzzing
November 19th, 2012
11:17 am
I hope for a good game against GA on Sat. But, let’s be realistic Tech fans. They got the mojo going and are peaking at the right time. Maybe I’m wrong. But to lose to MTSU and to think we can beat GA is a stretch.
White&Gold
November 19th, 2012
11:19 am
The ACC is a joke, yet a team that has had trouble with Buffalo, FAU, Mizzou, Tennessee, Kentucky, and GSU controls their destiny to play for a national championship. A true powerhouse you guys there in Athens.
GT is a Joke
November 19th, 2012
11:19 am
DEAR COASTAL CHUMPS,
GET READY FOR YOUR ASS WHIPPING IN ATHENS ON SATURDAY.
ylojkt
November 19th, 2012
11:20 am
mark it down, another 45 – 42 surprise coming up for the dwags.
Burdell
November 19th, 2012
11:21 am
Wow…not 42 like your prediction Big D? Maybe we should just play the game…
Reebok
November 19th, 2012
11:21 am
Unbelievable…GT has a lot to play for… State Championship, ACC Championship, Bowl Game, possibly Orange Bowl. I don’t think we have the athletes to match up w/ UGA, but the way things are going, it seems like anything is possible.
David Granger
November 19th, 2012
11:21 am
For all the talk a few years ago about Miami “cleaning up its act”, none of us really believed that for a minute. Same old scummy program they’ve always been…
UGA = Yawn
November 19th, 2012
11:21 am
Ken, Orwin is great but we had at least 8 contribute to running plays Saturday. The other guys will step up. And this Godhigh player is super great!
Wolfpack Backer
November 19th, 2012
11:22 am
OMG,
And GA Tech is proud of this? Whatever………….Bulldogs and Seminoles will KILL you guys.
Rhettt
November 19th, 2012
11:22 am
@That’s why they play the game – Packers, Giants. discussion, etc. Exactly! When something is almost a certain, watch out. ie: Patriots 2008 Superbowl, Packers 2011 Playoffs. Georgia will be heavy favorites, so, watch Bulldog Nation!
Rick James
November 19th, 2012
11:23 am
@5150 UOAD
How is TECH Backing into the ACC CG? Now if Miami beats Duke then yes TECH was given a gift, but if Duke wins then Tech would be going no matter what Miami did.
————————————————————————————————————————–
I dont know what you read but I will share what I read..Tech got a gift.
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.
Rhettt
November 19th, 2012
11:23 am
er: watch”out” Bulldog Nation
Rick James
November 19th, 2012
11:25 am
@Reebok
Unbelievable…GT has a lot to play for… State Championship, ACC Championship, Bowl Game, possibly Orange Bowl. I don’t think we have the athletes to match up w/ UGA, but the way things are going, it seems like anything is possible.
——————————————————————————————————————————
Santa only comes once a year and today was Christmas for Tech..
My Anus
November 19th, 2012
11:25 am
“Sure I’d love to see Tech kick the “dawgs” but I think we know it won’t happen, not because ga is all that and a bag of chips, but they always seem to be be a team of luck.”
And they have more bigger, physical and more atheletic lineman on both sides of the ball, that’s really the only difference between the sec and other conferences (with the exception of ohio state, and a few others)… that’s probably the main reason that the sec teams seem to succeed in many games outside of the their own conference, and why they get a lot of bias from the polls. Also, that’s probably the main reason why teams such as uga struggle against teams like alabama and lsu,because they are actually playing teams with good lineman, and good recruits (similar to themselves)……but better coaching overall…
Rhettt
November 19th, 2012
11:27 am
@Rick James – Tech got a gift. I don’t remember reading anywhere Tech had anything to do with improper gifts from a Hurricane fan to Miami players. Please correct me if I am wrong. Miami broke the rules by not running a proper program. Don’t think Tech had anything to do with Miami’s lack of supervising Miami’s program.
GTFan
November 19th, 2012
11:27 am
UGA scheduled was handed to them, because it was so darn easy!!! The SEC East is a weak conference. If UGA was in any of the others conferences within the SEC they would be destroyed. UGA fans are always the same. UGA hasn’t played anyone worth the talent. So, please think before you speak.
Habersham Dawg
November 19th, 2012
11:29 am
Tech has won their division and you are to be congratulated. It doesn’t matter that Miami made a decision to not participate, what matters is that Tech will play for the ACC championship, and I hope Tech wins it. Congratulations to PJ and Tech’s players.
My Anus
November 19th, 2012
11:32 am
And the doggies beat a very overrated # 2 florida team, that beat a south carolina team coming off a big blowout win, an overrated lsu team, and lucked up by playing a texas a&m team in their first sec game…. after watching that horribly sloppy game between florida and georgia, they should had moved both teams down a few spots……
White&Gold
November 19th, 2012
11:32 am
I’m really gonna enjoy this weekend when the two “powerhouses” (USC and Florida) get smashed by FSU and Clemson. That right there will sum up UGA’s schedule when their two hardest opponents lose.
Buddy Landel
November 19th, 2012
11:34 am
Re: Tech’s gift- I think what some trolls are failing to understand is that if Duke beats Miami, Tech is the ACC Coastal Champ anyway.
GA Tech alum From 1997
November 19th, 2012
11:38 am
@GTFan,
You are kidding right? Saying UGA was handed all those games. MTSU kicked us in the groin and we got beat by BYU not to mention a sorry VT team wore us out.. You embarrass us as Tech fans.
Please dude.
BigTimeTECHFan
November 19th, 2012
11:39 am
Wait, if Miami loses to Duke, Tech wins coastal regardless of the ban.
So all this back into title game talk may be washed away.
Also if Clemson beats USCe they will be ranked ahead of UGA. No dought if FSU beat Florida then Clemson only loss it to top 6 team. UGA will have loss against USC which will move back to about 20-25.
SansWorld
November 19th, 2012
11:41 am
I expect that the game will be closer than many predict.
Over the last 15 years, 2/3rds of the games have been been setteled by one TD or less. In only one was the game won by more than two TDs.
Even last year’s game where GT could not do anything on either side of the ball was still only a 14 point Victory.
Home Crowd
November 19th, 2012
11:41 am
GT to BIG TEN??? HERE IS AN ATRICLE SUPPORTING RUMORS THAT GT MIGHT BE NEXT TARGET FOR BIG TEN…. http://mobile.nj.com/advnj/pm_29222/contentdetail.htm?contentguid=eTJiw5sn
MaconDawg
November 19th, 2012
11:46 am
Congratulation Tech and Jacket fans. Looking forward to seeing you Between The Hedges at noon on Saturday. I expect a slug fest. I just hope it is CLEAN old fashioned hate and both teams survive any injuries and then move on to their respective C.C. Games. Good luck (after Saturday).
SansWorld
November 19th, 2012
11:47 am
I suspect if UGA had played GTs schedule, they would still be 10 -1.
If they had played Arkansas’s schedule, a SEC West team, they would probalby be 7-4 or 6-5, losing to LSU, Bama, SC,Texas A&M, and either Rutgers or MSU.
Tech would still be 6-5 if they had played UGA’s schedule.
Paul Johnson For President
November 19th, 2012
11:47 am
If having the ACC Champ game invite by default is good enough for me and the team, it should be good enough for the fans.
SansWorld
November 19th, 2012
11:48 am
Thanks Macon Dawg
Home Crowd
November 19th, 2012
11:49 am
Clarification on GT to Big Ten comment. The article is meant to serve as support that the rumors are starting to circulate and NOT a supporting fact that Big is targeting GT.
sean jones
November 19th, 2012
11:49 am
Well UGA backed in to the SEC Championship game too—just like alwayz and they will get throttles by Saben in the Uh-Oh DOME so who really cares???
sean jones
November 19th, 2012
11:50 am
UGA 13 BAMA 42……yawn
Bad Dawg, Bad Dawg
November 19th, 2012
11:53 am
Consider this…..Consider this: Since UGA’s only national championship 32 YEARS BACK…Bama has won 4, LSU 2, Gators 2, Auburn 1, Vols 1 and Tech 1. Now mind you that means Bama has 14 total, LSU has 3, Gator have 3, Auburn has 2, Vols 6 and Tech 4. UGA 1 and only 1 and you’re an elite program in the SEC. I think the elites are listed above. Numbers don’t lie, people do.
Tech77
November 19th, 2012
11:53 am
UGA Trolls can talk all they want. They are just being typical all mouth fans. This is why no one likes you. No one respects your fan base. I speak with fans all the time that hate UGA and their fans because you are like this. The problem is that UGA has done nothing notable to give their fans reasons to be like this. The truth of the matter is they know this and refuse to accept they are a second tier program. You are not LSU, Alabama, Texas, Ohio State, Oklahoma, Michigan, Notre Dame, etc.. You are not and never will be. You got lucky one Saturday in 1980. Otherwise you would be on the outside looking in. The University of Georgia fan base (most of them) suck. Until you have achieved more in College Football than Georgia Tech then keep your mouths shut. Who cares about your success against Tech? At least we understand that Georgia will always recruit better than we. You should be able to beat us more times than not. Who cares? What you are about to discover though is that November 24th, you will lose. Then you will lose to Alabama a week later. Then you will be calling for the firing of your head coach and OC. Then your AD will do so and with your schedule next year 6 wins will seem like a excellant year. Then the trend will continue until you have went through 3 more head coaches. Mark it down boys! it WILL happen.
Killer Dog
November 19th, 2012
11:53 am
@sean jones,
Tech will get destroyed over the next two weeks. You are facing the #3 and #10 teams in the country.
Where is tech ranked? Maybe in the top 60.
White&Gold
November 19th, 2012
11:55 am
Killer Dog, if you’ve followed college football at all this season than you should be aware that rankings don’t indicate how good a team is at all.
mgdawg
November 19th, 2012
11:58 am
Can you tech fans really have any conference pride? How sad is your conference, especially your division, when a team with your record is in the conference championship. Especially a team that got beat by middle tennessee state. From what I’ve read the Big East has lost its automatic bid in the new playoff system, looks like the ACC should lose their’s also.
UGA Lover
November 19th, 2012
11:58 am
@Bad Dawg,
You are wrong,
Try 1927, 1942, 1946, 1968 and 1980 Natl Champs.
Dont believe me? Look it up.
In the early years the polls were different and the natl consensus was different.
Buzzy Bee
November 19th, 2012
12:01 pm
White&Gold.
But the rankings determine WHO plays for National Championship. Right Now all UGA has to do is win 2 games. And they are in
Munsondawg
November 19th, 2012
12:04 pm
Poor Tech77 sounds bitter. Get a grip dude. Your comment was way off base.
www
November 19th, 2012
12:04 pm
awesome.
congrats guys. you earned a shot at an acc title, now let’s make it count.
and might as well beat georgia as a warm up for the bigger fish.