Jackets give helping hand to Bulldogs in rout
ATHENS – Georgia didn’t need much help to beat Georgia Tech, but the Bulldogs received plenty. The result was predictable – a 42-10 loss for the Yellow Jackets on Saturday at Sanford Stadium.
Seeking perhaps the biggest upset in the history of the rivalry, Tech turned the ball over twice, botched offensive plays, tackled poorly and gave the Bulldogs generous field position.
The No. 3 Bulldogs did the rest, plowing through Tech’s defense and proving themselves the superior outfit for the 11th time in the past 12 years. It’s the most one-sided 12-game stretch in series history, replacing 10-2 runs that spanned 1971-1982, 1972-1983 and 1986-1997.
The loss brought to a halt Tech’s second-half run in which the Jackets rallied from a 2-4 start with four wins in five games to gain bowl eligibility and a spot in the ACC Championship game. After this dispiriting defeat, Paul Johnson will have to re-train his team’s focus on what could be even a greater challenge – Florida State in the ACC Championship game next Saturday night in Charlotte, N.C.
Tech will play the once-beaten and 10th-ranked Seminoles with a 6-6 record. Georgia (11-1) will likely play Alabama in the SEC championship at the Georgia Dome with a likely spot in the BCS championship game on the line if Alabama stops Auburn later in the day Saturday.
Tech’s chances took a direct hit even before kickoff when A-back Orwin Smith was ruled out with an ankle injury suffered last Saturday in the win over Duke. With Tech’s most productive offensive player sidelined, the Jackets gave more touches to A-back Robbie Godhigh and tried to establish the interior running game with B-backs David Sims and Zach Laskey Tech actually moved the ball effectively – at halftime, the Jackets had 238 yards of offense and were 4-for-8 on third downs. But the Jackets lost the ball on the opening possession when Godhigh was stripped by Georgia safety Bacarri Rambo near the goal line. Rambo intercepted quarterback Vad Lee on a deep ball to A-back B.J. Bostic to end the fourth possession. The fifth possession, the last of the half, was capped by a missed field goal from 36 yards.
The Bulldogs’ offensive line manhandled the Tech defensive front, clearing wide lanes for running backs Todd Gurley and keeping quarterback Aaron Murray safe in the pocket.
Georgia averaged 10.6 yards per play in the first half, scoring four touchdowns in its five possessions before halftime. It didn’t hurt that the Bulldogs’ average starting point on its five drives was just past its 40-yard line.
- Ken Sugiura of the AJC staff
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300 comments Add your comment
5150 UOAD
November 25th, 2012
10:26 am
White&Gold
November 25th, 2012
10:09 am
As upset as I am with yesterday’s performance, I think it was even more embarrasing with the amount of Tech fans that turned out. Couldn’t have been more than a thousand (and I was one of them). Yet Georgia fans find a way to make it seem as if they are the home team when we play at Bobby Dodd. It’s sad. Our fanbase will only show up when we’re winning, but won’t even identify themselves as “Tech fans” when we’re down.
========================================
I have not been to Athens since 98 and NEVER plan to attend a football game in Athens Ever again. I hate being in that town with those fans. I travel to OTHER away games but not in the Septic Tank of the South.
doc
November 25th, 2012
10:29 am
come on guys, we got bigger fish to fry, winning the acc championship game!
just like in ‘09.
Tech is a joke
November 25th, 2012
10:30 am
@5150
Good, we don’t want you back in God’s Country!!
GT Baller
November 25th, 2012
10:32 am
Head Coach Considerations
- Vic Fangio – Defensive Coordinator – San Francisco 49ers
- Greg Roman – Offensive Coordinator for the 49ers
- Phillip Montgomery – Offensive Coordinator – Baylor
- Derek Mason – Stanford Defensive Coordinator
- Brent Pease – Offensive Coordinator at Florida
- Kliff Kingsbury – Offensive Coordinator at Texas A&M
- Mark Helfrich – Offensive Coordinator at Oregon
- Mike Sullivan – Offensive Coordinator – Tampa Bay Bucaneers
- Ralph Friedgen – presently unemployed
- Todd Monken – Offensive Coordinator at Oklahoma State
- Lance Thompson – Linebackers Coach at Alabama
- Rod Ash – Montana State
- Bobby Wilder – Old Dominion
- Chuck Priore – Stony Brook
Long Shots:
- Andy Reid – after he gets fired at Philadelphia
- Bobby Petrino – I know… It’s shameless
- Ken Whisenhunt – if he wants to turn around his Alma Mater
- Jim Tressel – also shameless, but he’s a darn good coach
GT Baller
November 25th, 2012
10:35 am
Where are you George Stein? I put the list out and you remain silent.
5150 UOAD
November 25th, 2012
10:37 am
God’s Country!!………………? What GOD would that be?
The Don Leebern’s GOD of Alcohol?
The Cheetah’s GOD of the next generation of Strippers, Porn Stars and Call Girls?
The GODS of Education like Plato, George Washington Carver and Jan Kemp worshiped?
doc
November 25th, 2012
10:39 am
truth, we couldnt play to win the championship series championship, or whatever the ncaa calls it, the next level down and with 20 more scholarships. cpj cant even get “blind squirrel lucky” with athletic/academic recruits it seems. tech doesnt have a guy on the squad that could break into there second unit much less first, not one.
i dont care how much heart you got it takes physical mass to play this game, with heart. we lack in the former, get the other beaten out of us.
GT Baller
November 25th, 2012
10:40 am
@5150
Now on this subject, I have to give it up to the Dawgs… They have us beat in football and S-L- uts! I love going up there to take advantage of those skankers. It’s like fishing with dynamite. Lets five credit where credit is due…
5150 UOAD
November 25th, 2012
10:50 am
GT Baller….it is ALL GOOD when it is not your daughter or sister.
Born2Buzz
November 25th, 2012
11:00 am
We are not playing big boy football. Apparently nobody in the ACC is.
We will get our arse kicked by FSU unless PJ change
superDawg
November 25th, 2012
11:01 am
It’s great to be a GEORGIA BULLDAWG!
Born2Buzz
November 25th, 2012
11:05 am
Unless PJ changes his approach. (Hit the submit button by prematurely, kind of like DRad gave PJ that contract extension). Why we kept seeing TW and the BBack dive when down 28-3 baffled me.
It was definitely boys playing men out there yesterday.
Freddie Blassie
November 25th, 2012
11:10 am
Roll Tide.
GT Baller
November 25th, 2012
11:17 am
@5150
My daughter will never attend UGA — academics matter. She knows the rule — we dont waste money in our house! I’m just sayin’… Athens is easy pickings… Which is not a bad thing!
...Take The Wheel
November 25th, 2012
11:27 am
Let’s go Jackets! Win next week = silence the critics and ’so called fans’! And you get another shot at in the orange bowl to boot! Despite a rocky season, the football Gods continue to smile on this squad! You could walk away with the ultimate last laugh!!
Dogs will be in the orange bowl! Cause they certainly will not beat BAMA. Rolllll Tide!
Home Crowd
November 25th, 2012
11:36 am
suit me up. I’d rather get my own teeth kicked in by UGA than watch my team get drilled. This GT team is weak, horrible, and horribly coached. Some tough breaks at the goal line but why can’t our DB’s do the same? Strip the ball?? Because they are overmatched and too weak. It’s seriously like watching a junior high team play against the varsity HS team. What a joke my joke from the coke has become.
headley lamar
November 25th, 2012
11:37 am
“Nobody has ever stopped my offense”
- Paul Johnson
Tech Man
November 25th, 2012
11:46 am
All I know is that I’m tired of getting beat by the Mutts, something needs to change. Tech hasn’t had a winning streak against lassie since the late 90’s!!
TIME IS UP
November 25th, 2012
11:58 am
WHAT YOUNG UP AND COMING DEFENSIVE COORDINATOR IS GOING TO WANT TO WORK FOR JOHNSON. HE HAS THE PERSONALITY OF A ROCK. HIS TIME IS UP AND THE ADMINISTRATION NEEDS TO OPEN ITS EYES. IT IS GOING TO COST THEM MORE IN EMPTY SEATS NEXT YEAR. FSU WILL BEAT US BY TWO TOUCHDOWNS MINIMUM.
BORAT YAGADOV
November 25th, 2012
12:17 pm
I was at the game yesterday and actually felt sad for the Tech players and 3 GT fans that showed up. The score was 42-10, but it wasn’t even that close, as Bobo decided to put the Water Boys in late in the 3rd Qtr.
The problem with Tech is your offensive philosophy and how you recruit the type of players to run that scheme. When that offense meets a stout SEC defense and you’re down by 2 TD’s, there’s no way to play catch-up, because you’re too busy grinding the ball out on the ground.
Paul Johnson is going to have to wake-up, because 4-5 star recruits want to play in the NFL and with the exception of Calvin Johnson, it’s a tough road when you’re marketing a high school offensive strategy. As a Georgia fan I hope Tech gives Paul Johnson a contract extension and erects a bronze stature of Al Groh.
Tech is for "Back Door" Specialist
November 25th, 2012
12:26 pm
How do you like the way Tech backed into the ACC Championship Game? Of course, Tech fans know A LOT about going in through the back door.
BTW, the ACC is the worst conference in America. All four SEC teams just crushed the ACC competition (if you want to call it that). Tech and the ACC suck worse than 5150 UOAD’s wife and sister.
kral
November 25th, 2012
12:30 pm
So I guess what your saying…is none of the students at Tech drink,smoke,have sex, or party….hope you never use a female pharmacist …she might just be from UGA…by the way good luck next week and thanks for yesterday baller..even your name will make your daughter proud I’m sure
GT Baller
November 25th, 2012
12:33 pm
The ACC is not a big boy football conference… I agree. But nobody is the SEC. The SEC stands alone.
The ACc is the best basketball conference and is among the three best baseball conferences, Its academics lap the SEC a few times over. If you view the world only through the lens of football, then you are correct Back Door. But it also means you are a sad individual. The very fact that you mention “back doors” makes me certain that you have bitten a few pillows in your life.
Tech Fans Are Clowns
November 25th, 2012
12:34 pm
For the foolish Tech fan who said wait until next year, just know that UGA is re-loading with 33 more studs again this year. What is Tech doing to improve? Signing 15 players who nobody else wanted. More beatings to come for the Institute and ACC boys.
Wonder how Godhigh is feeling today? Answer: Like a human rag doll. Godhigh is Olgetree’s bit_h. LMAO!!!!!
GT Baller
November 25th, 2012
12:37 pm
Kral,
You misunderstand me… I am saying that we Techsters party hard… Often times at the expense of some UGA senoritas!
I am safe on the UGA pharmacist thing. There are only 32 in existence and they all work at Wal-Mart. I don’t shop there.
kral
November 25th, 2012
12:43 pm
your wrong there baller..I know some personally that don’t..but glad you party hard…and just be safe when you enjoy the senoritas..you do not want to get a daughter you were not expecting
GT Baller
November 25th, 2012
12:47 pm
True Dat, Kral! I will be careful, but I generally aim for the nose area… They appreciate it more than you would think, especially those UGA hookaz!
kral
November 25th, 2012
12:54 pm
you’ll make any daughter proud your they’re fartha baller
GTMAN
November 25th, 2012
12:57 pm
As bad as we are, we are still better than all but two teams in the ACC. Yes, the ACC sucks.
1. Get rid of CPJ. He does not want to be a head football coach. He just wants to call plays. A good head coach would not allow special teams to suck this long. After failing at special teams, I can’t believe he put Charles Kelley as DC – another coaching decision disaster.
2. Get rid of the 3-4 defense. GT will never get the dominant NT necessary to play the 3-4. This was a program crippling decision (in addition to the poor decision to hire Al Groh)
3. Hire Brent Pease. Vad Lee and our personnel on offense can run that offense. He can hire a good DC and special teams coach.
GT Baller
November 25th, 2012
1:01 pm
She can handle herself because she has been raised right. BTW… Going to Yale next year.
You keep eating those Doritos, Kral! I particularly like the subtle judgment of me for respecting the finer things that UGA puts out. There are a lot of well-formed Betty’s from UGA. Take a compliment… You guys do football and ho’s very well.
kral
November 25th, 2012
1:03 pm
their not they’re in my last post…time to watch the Falcons..if it goes bad..I just might have to watch a replay of UGA and TECH to relieve the pain..keep it real baller…
GT Baller
November 25th, 2012
1:04 pm
I will, Kral. Go Falcons! And don’t tell my Tech friends, but I am secretly hoping you guys beat Alabama and play for the title against ND.
GT Baller
November 25th, 2012
1:06 pm
Calling George Stein to the Head Coaching List I produced.
kral
November 25th, 2012
1:07 pm
OH and forgive me for being the one who makes subtle judgements
GT Baller
November 25th, 2012
1:09 pm
Your forgiven, guy! Go Falcons! Tough one today!
PS… My wife went to Georgia and she is laughing hysterically over here.
gt4life
November 25th, 2012
2:01 pm
Defense puts too much pressure on our offense. The offense has the potential to do great things, which it has before. Give Paul time with Lee and a new dc and see what happens. We have plenty of starters coming back. The offense is unstoppable when ran correcty. Just have to have a defense that gives the offense a chance. We put up plenty of yards yesterday without our best offensive player. Not having our best offensive player is the reason we couldn’t score or get a first when needed. I hate losing to uga more than anything. But I still believe CPJ is our guy and is the answer. Don’t give up on him and tech when things are going rough. He will have us back to where we should be. Just get a new dc.
gt4life
November 25th, 2012
2:05 pm
Today sucks but im still proud to say I am a yellow jacket and always will be. Lets have some faith in Paul and the jackets and lets win the acc. Very possible season isn’t over.
...Take The Wheel
November 25th, 2012
2:31 pm
I agree gt4life! Well said!
Stalin's Ghost
November 25th, 2012
3:05 pm
ever wonder what is so badly wrong in some SEC fans lives that they so desperately live through the success of illiterate and exploited 18-22 year olds who could not care if they live or die?
kingster
November 25th, 2012
3:08 pm
This is a point when everyone in the who has anything to do with TECH football knows, three time before Satuday that the team quit playing, they quit against UGA yesterday in the 4th quarter. The money to buy out Paul Johnson has to come from somewhere, when your team quits playing its more than time to make a change, the few recruits we got have noticed it, the fans have noticed it. What is it to look for, a hard headed coach who wants to be different, thinks he knows everything, doesn’t care about the defense, he didn’t get Tech to this conference championship, North Carolina and Miami did. UGA will be laughing at us (TECH) for the next 12 months for a very good reason, North Carolina State got rid of their coach and he had a better record than Tech. WHATS UP!!!!
Stalin's Ghost
November 25th, 2012
3:18 pm
the only person on GT Ballers list I would even consider is KW. he needs an escape from the hell of Phoenix, and GT needs an escape from the hell of CPJ
Born2Buzz
November 25th, 2012
3:43 pm
You know, I’ve tried to be positive throughout the year. I’ve supported the team with my attendance, with my passion. I’ve cheered for the players and been appreciative and proud of their achievements. I’ve been supportive of CPJ and the staff…until now.
Our Head Coach is doing a (insert derogatory adjective of choice) poor job.
5 years into PJ’s stewardship; our Special Teams SUCK, our Defense SUCKS, to the extent that we fired the DC in the middle of the season and set records for futility, and our offense is weird, gaining chunks of yards, scoring big against weak teams but rarely scoring big against high caliber competition.
Our recruiting has been suspect at best. There is talent on the roster for sure, but the difference between the total of our talent and the big boys (we saw it in full force yesterday) is significant. But we aren’t alone in this as we actually compete in our own league. The entire ACC and most of the country is behind the SEC in total talent. Still….
CPJ has been successful for us, he’s been successful his entire career, but right now he’s not being successful. I want to give him the benefit of the doubt because of his track record, but when you look at the fact that 2/3’s of the team look completely unprepared in the biggest game of the year, hell, for most every game of the year, he’ll, for pretty much 5 years, it’s pretty hard.
I guess I will cheer for the boys 2 more games, hoping for the best, and then see what should be done.
Born2Buzz
November 25th, 2012
4:29 pm
gt4life, I appreciate your attitude, I agree to an extent about the offense ( I think it could be awesome if he threw the ball as much as he runs it. We ran the dive play 29 times yesterday? We scored 10 pts. Maybe he was doing that to keep UGA from scoring 70). But this is now a 5 year trend and our defense, which last time i checked is ultimately the responsibility of the head coach, is historically bad. And our special teams play is also a 5 year trend. CPJ has not been getting the job done in 2/3’s of his on field responsibilities. ( I won’t get into the recruiting discussion, but its certainly a point for debate).
How much longer do we give him.
5150 is a Punk
November 25th, 2012
4:32 pm
5150, you said earlier this week that Tech would hit back and fight during the game. Yesterday, Tech rolled over and gave up just like you. Please do not ever come back to Athens. We don’t like trailer park trash like you messing up a great college town. You need to stay on North Avenue with the robbers, drunks and homeless where you are right at home.
Suck it punk!!!
SlimG
November 25th, 2012
4:48 pm
Vad who? The guy is not the answer. He looked like the rest of the team , scared. Are we finally past the honeymoon stage with PJ? Offense was shut down until dawgs emptied their bench. Hey we played their JV tough…………please express your feeling while we ran the ball up the middle down by five TDs?????????????? And you still support this staff ??????
I’ll be waiting for the excuses
Vel Crow
November 25th, 2012
5:17 pm
What? No 45-42 comments. Just A Clean Old Fashioned AZZ Whipping.
To Tell the Truth
November 25th, 2012
5:17 pm
Get rid of the current coaching staff and go after a big name with a lot of $$’s like John Gruden. Next, recruit a freakin QB that can throw the football as this option offense is a thing of the past!!!! Stop recruiting THUGS!!!!!
browndog
November 25th, 2012
6:26 pm
What happens to CPJ offense “if” the NFL goes forward with not allowing blocks below the waist? If the NFL moves in that direction then just a matter of time before the NCAA does as well.
blake
November 25th, 2012
6:40 pm
gt looked like a high school team and worse than ga southern. this coach has got to go. just gt’s luck they sneak into the acc title game.
pj doesn’t have a clue how to recruit or get a decent defense.
Full Metal Jacket
November 25th, 2012
6:42 pm
I am not just reacting to this embarrassing loss in Athens. I have been a supporter of Coach Johnson since his hiring, and while I have been critical of his P.R. efforts for the Institute (and more generally the way he represents the Institute with his dour personality), it is clear to me now that we need to make a change. Taking 1 out of 3 from UGA in football is probably about the best we can expect in the current college football climate, and I can live with that. Johnson is now 1-4 against UGA and 0-4 in bowl games: that is not acceptable. I truly believe he is a good man but he is not the right man to coach Georgia Tech. And it’s not even about his offense. It’s about recruiting, not hiring the right coordinators and assistants, and yes, even PR. “That which must be done is best done quickly.”