Updated Tech bowl scenarios II
If Georgia Tech is unable to pull the upset in the ACC Championship game against Florida State, it appears more than ever that the Yellow Jackets would head for the Sun Bowl. With a win, of course, Tech would go to the Orange Bowl.
In the event of a loss, Saturday’s results make it more likely that the Sun Bowl in El Paso, Texas, would be Tech’s destination. Clemson’s loss to South Carolina Saturday dropped the Tigers to No. 14 in the BCS standings, so they’re still eligible for an at-large bid, but with two losses and their Orange Bowl showing last year, it doesn’t seem likely.
That would make Clemson the automatic pick for the Chick-fil-A Bowl. The Russell Athletic Bowl, which has second pick in the ACC bowl selection order after the BCS bowls, can choose between Georgia Tech, Virginia Tech and N.C. State.
N.C. State just fired coach Tom O’Brien, so I’m guessing this isn’t a fan base ready to celebrate anything. If the Yellow Jackets are available, it will mean they’ll have lost two games in a row, one by a wide margin, and have fallen to 6-7. Tech will have a better league record than the Hokies (5-3 to 4-4), but Virginia Tech will have won its last two games, have a non-losing record (6-6) and a win over the Jackets. Further, Virginia Tech has never been to the Russell Athletics Bowl.
As I noted in a post last week, having a winning record (or at least not a losing record) is not a small matter of importance to the Russell Athletic Bowl folks. The bowl, formerly the Champs Sports Bowl, is used to getting eight- or nine-win teams.
Prior to the Georgia game, Citrus Bowl Sports CEO Steve Hogan said that “I think the Georgia game is a big game just because of that, because of the overall winning record.”
One or the other will go to Orlando, I think. That would leave Tech at the Sun Bowl, its destination last year. The Sun Bowl is required to take the ACC title-game runner-up if it’s available. Two ESPN projections pair Tech up with Southern California.
I’ve read that Tech would not be bowl eligible at 6-7 and that the waiver that UCLA received last year will not be granted. BCS guru Jerry Palm tweeted it, for instance. I don’t believe that to be the case, largely because, as I’ve written, Tech, ACC and bowl officials all expect the waiver to be granted. The other reason is that the NCAA process instituted that addresses 6-7 teams that lose their championship game was put in place for a situation in which there weren’t enough bowl-eligible teams.
As I understand it, because there are enough bowl-eligible teams, there isn’t a need to use the protocol that could potentially keep Tech out. It’s conceivable that the waiver could be denied, but on a teleconference Sunday night, coach Paul Johnson said that acting athletic director Paul Griffin told him that Tech will go to a bowl.
One other thing: Should Tech pull the upset, it’s likely Orange Bowl opponent will be the Big East champion, either Rutgers or Louisville. The two teams play Thursday night to decide the title. There’s also a possibility that Kent State, which hasn’t played in a bowl game since 1972 but is playing against Northern Illinois for the MAC title, could make it the Orange Bowl.
Ken Sugiura, Georgia Tech bowl
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218 comments Add your comment
Goldenrod
November 26th, 2012
3:34 pm
I cannot wait to go to Charlotte as we beat DOWN the Creminoles, shock the world and head to the Orange Bowl. We had bigger fish to fry than UGag.
We WILL Run This Conference!
79
November 26th, 2012
3:37 pm
College Ball Fan wrote;
“…Tech has a record since 1960 of 332 – 270 – 10. That is 26 games over .500 for the 52 year period. ….”
Gee Whiz, math is hard!
GT Fan
November 26th, 2012
3:39 pm
Don’t criticize Headly, he’s a solid chap. Besides, he’s got a bigger problem to worry about over in Rock Ridge with their new Sheriff …. I thinks he’s near.
Georgia Tech Runs this state
November 26th, 2012
3:40 pm
UGA has some WEAK defense. Cant wait to thrash FSU #1 run defense too.
Gus in Marietta
November 26th, 2012
3:48 pm
Anyone not think the program is in a downward spiral? This year’s team looks like a rebuilding year (like a coach’s first year team), not a coach’s 5th year team. The talent has been getting steadily worse, as have the results. The writer for the AJC nailed it late last week when he said that UGA had the advantage at EVERY position (all 22 plus special teams). How are you supposed to win if the other team is better at every spot? Even when the Dawgs had Herschel and won the National Championship in ‘80, some of our players were better than some of theirs.
This is as low as at any point since I started watching Tech football in Sept of 1976. This team is no better than Curry’s bad teams or Lewis’ team. Oh the results are a little better, in large measure due to the “stylized” offense (to use Bradley’s descriptor). That “equalizer” is the only thing keeping this team from utter humiliation every blessed week. Not only is the talent lacking, I don’t see much in the way of great coaching. CPJ is doing what he can, but where are the stud assistant coaches? When we won the National Championship in 1990, we had a great head coach in Bobby Ross, a great offensive coach in Ralph Friedgen, and a great defensive coach in George O’Leary. The drop off from then to now is breathtaking on every level.
The truly sad thing is that I can’t see any way on God’s green earth that we will ever get back to such lofty heights…
Jacketnation Deflation
November 26th, 2012
3:50 pm
We neither need to nor deserve to go to a bowl game. Tech is not the upset specialist. Well except for specializing in giving you and upset stomach. They haven’t beaten a ranked team all year and it ain’t going to happen in Charlotte. Florida State has a much stronger offense and a defensive that is very capable of causing Tech a lot of problems. We don’t have a defense. We gave up 150 yards in the air and two touch downs to a true freshman, scout team linebacker who had to do emergency duty as a fifth string Quarterback. Our defense is as porous as the Arizona border with Mexico. No bowl game for this team. End the season and get on the road to recruiting. With all the coach firing, Johnson should go after the top recruits from each team and drop a few of our nobody else in Div -1 wants them recruits.
GTBob
November 26th, 2012
3:52 pm
How are you supposed to win if the other team is better at every spot?
Almost every year we play UGA for the rest of eternity, they are going to be much better at pretty much every position. You just have to hope that the team puts together a quality game and pulls off an upset every once in a while.
wrecked again
November 26th, 2012
3:53 pm
Goldenrod you either have a fabulous since of humor or you’re a foolish dumbass. You did pick both Georgia Southern and Tech to beat Georgia.
GTBob
November 26th, 2012
3:53 pm
End the season and get on the road to recruiting.
You think it will help recruiting if we refuse to play in the ACC championship and turn down a bowl invite? You think that would be really impressive to all of the recruits out there?
Big Jim
November 26th, 2012
3:57 pm
Idiots!!!! Some of you STILL do not get it. I will try again:
4-5 star (Offense) kids want to/think they will, play on Sunday, where they pass, some 40+ times.
No triple flopsion is run on Sunday (reason – it does NOT NOT NOT work in big boy football)
4-5 star kids want to play on a team with other 4-5 star kids.
1-2 Star recruits on offense = 1-2 star kids on defense. Its simple.
That Sh*t offense effects EVERY position on the field, butts in seats, donations, bowl bids, and WINS!
To all you morons who say “well, we moved the ball well against Ugag, blablablah”…OMG….until they give points for “yards & TOP”, that is just an idiotic statement.
GT Willie
November 26th, 2012
4:01 pm
What, get rid of our coach? Have you lost your minds? Give the guy a break. He’s doing his best. I’d like to see someone else take lesser talent like this, and put a better product on the field. So we have one down year, big deal. We are still playing in the ACCC and going to a bowl. I’ll take that any day than UGA being ranked #3 and losing to #2 Bama only to drop to the Chick fil A bowl.
Technically Correct
November 26th, 2012
4:05 pm
Who gives a crap anymore?
old dog
November 26th, 2012
4:05 pm
I know we all go back and forth on these blogs….some of it good-natured and some of it not. However, my Tech buddies, in all sincerety it is time to stop being delusional and make a change if you plan on being a D-1 team. I know that UGA has had down years, too, and will again. However, the low ya’ll are headed for is unchartered territory.
1. The worst defense in the history of organized athletics. You can’t coach these guys up to D-1 standards….the are not talented enough.
2. The system you run has as much to do with the lack of good recruiting as academics, etc. Top notch players, ESPECIALLY a good QB are not coming to this system.
3. D players are not too keen on coming, either, as they know they will not look very good at Tech. This just is not the system to bring them in.
Come on, guys, and realize what you have. CPJ won a few with someone elses recruits and a system many had not seen. Good heavens, if someone brough back the wing-T it would catch folks off-guard for a few minutes. However, once it is figured out, good teams can stop it. Don’t carry on about all the yards you had; all you gotta do is play bend but don’t break and then when real ball has to be played (red zone) it is exposed. You are quickly losing your fan base……at some home games there were not enough folks there to fill up a phone booth. I know all about the academics, classes, excuses, etc. However, the truth is that ya’ll can do better. Quit trying to fool others (and worse, yourselves) and get Tech football AT LEAST respectable. The rivalry is now officially gone. When your arch-enemy at one time becomes a powder-puff game in which you merely worry about not getting someone hurt before the real game comes, that is inexcusable. And that, my friends is where you are. C’mon on, man!
Al Bundy
November 26th, 2012
4:07 pm
I just hope we still have our coach when it’s time to lose our bowl game. With all the head coaching jobs open all over the country I’m sure some school if not all will want Johnson. He’s probably already been contacted by Tennessee, Auburn and Arkansas! They’ll probably getting in a bidding war over him. He’s just like Wiley Coyote, he’s a super genious!
Admiral Obvious
November 26th, 2012
4:07 pm
Please Give Paul Johnson a lifetime contract! He’s a football genius. Who needs 4 or 5 star recruits when you can coach them up like Paul Johnson!
crackbaby
November 26th, 2012
4:08 pm
If the Jackets win on Saturday, they deserve to go to the Orange Bowl. Lose to the Noles and they should stay home (but they won’t and that is b/c of the bowl system, no fault of GT).
The state of football in the ACC is an absolute grease fire. Hard to believe that Tech’s record in 2012 is worse than 2011.
Shane Hall
November 26th, 2012
4:09 pm
I’ve been a Tech fan for over 50 years. I loved to warch Bobby Dodd coached teams play, especially Billy Lothridge and Billy Martin. But Tech does not deserve to go to a bowl game and certainly does not need to play for the ACC championship. It will be just another embarrassing defeat. Paul Johnson’s triple offense will never work in big time football. I think Johnson needs to go to a Division II school.
Montylick&ass
November 26th, 2012
4:11 pm
GTBob: How many points do you get for “moving the ball”? Where does that show up in the Win-Loss column? We managed 3 points against the first team D, and that was mostly because our D kept getting us the ball back quickly…some genius discovered that our D could get off the field on third down by letting UGA score, since we couldn’t otherwise!
I'm Glad, I'm Glad, I'm Glad
November 26th, 2012
4:13 pm
hey dwagfan…better believe I’ll be glued to the tv, bub…if they hang 50 points on you guys, I’ll be cheering so loud you’ll hear me from Charleston…they don’t or they lose, then ND’ll kick yer butts, AND I’ll get to see USCe do it to you again next year….I’m good.
headley lamar
November 26th, 2012
4:15 pm
I didn’t claim it was a victory of any kind but its pretty much a fact that we were moving the ball on UGA without much of a problem.
Sure did.
I mean all those rushing yards and first downs.
They really added up.
Especially the second half when Georgia was tired.
So many big plays too.
I'm Glad, I'm Glad, I'm Glad
November 26th, 2012
4:15 pm
@ Al B…and so are you, ‘genious’.
Sanity Check
November 26th, 2012
4:16 pm
Ok, this is how you can tell if you have a good headcoach and a good football program; ARE YOU AFRAID ANOTHER SCHOOL IS GOING TO HIRE HIM AWAY FROM YOU?
Montylick&ass
November 26th, 2012
4:17 pm
Maybe the ACC should downsize, then we and the NC/Va schools would have a chance to win the conference. I would think FSU and Clemson would fit better in the SEC. They have SEC-sized stadiums and fan-bases, SEC-worthy pedigrees, and already have to play SEC rivals every year. FSU’s baseball team would fit right in with the baseball powerhouses of the SEC. Yeah, conference championships in football would be REALLY hard to win, but the new playoff format would mean the 2nd or 3rd SEC team would still have a shot at the national championship each year. All the extra bowl money, TV contract money, and ticket/merchandise sales could pay off the $50 million buyout pretty quick. That would leave the ACC room to pick up a few more second-tier football schools.
SansWorld
November 26th, 2012
4:18 pm
Of course we should go to a bowl game if offered.
I case you are not aware, going to a bowl game has nothing to do with pleasing whiny “fans”.
Primarily, the bowl game should be a reward to the players who at 3 – 5 were written off by those same whiney fans. Despite the failings this year, this team sucked up and ran of three in a row that their loyal supporters were convinced they would lose. A bowl game is the one change for a college athlete to be feted and given a ‘gift’ as a reward for their participation. For a Tech “fan” to propose that these players be denied this opportunity is beyond the Pale.
And of course no real fan would turn down the extra practice time unless they really want the program to fail the next year, which I suspect many do want to happen.
old dog
November 26th, 2012
4:19 pm
GTBob,
There are many on this blog who are true fans, and I admire them. You, however, are delusional at the very least. You may want to learn something about the game of football. Until you do, let grownups (yeah, even us Dawgs) talk reality and you go find a midget league team to pull for. It is painfully obvious that whether you are a fan or not the improvement of a once-proud program is of no importance to you.
GTBob
November 26th, 2012
4:19 pm
GTBob: How many points do you get for “moving the ball”?
None. We certainly had some turnover and play calling issues. UGA’s defense wasn’t really impressive though. Go back and watch the BYU game, then watch the UGA game. Tell me which team you think really shut us down.
GTBob
November 26th, 2012
4:21 pm
It is painfully obvious that whether you are a fan or not the improvement of a once-proud program is of no importance to you.
I am assuming you are talking about GT so give me a good run down on how you think GT can become as good as they were in the 50’s. I am all for improvement, so I welcome any insight that you may have that Tech fans have not thought of in the past 50 years.
Montylick&ass
November 26th, 2012
4:22 pm
SansWorld: Yeah, big turnaound, going from 3-5 to 6-8. I guess winning half our games is about the best we can expect from a CPJ team…
Of course, the ACC was SO strong this year, and we had to play FSU…oh, wait…
Georgia Tech Runs this state
November 26th, 2012
4:22 pm
Number are numbers people. We had more yards than UGA. I don’t understand the deal with this?
Dadgum.....
November 26th, 2012
4:27 pm
Apparently we are not going to a bowl game unless we beat FSU according to CBS Sports. No waivers coming as enough teams have qualified nationally.
Montylick&ass
November 26th, 2012
4:27 pm
GTBob….which game were you watching? 3 FREAKING POINTS! If you were not impressed by Rambo, Ogletree, Jarvis Jones, and the big noseguard (Jenkins?), then you don’t know defensive talent when you see it. Or, maybe you are right and all those NFL draft experts are wrong…
you seem to think you know something about CPJ that isnt obvious to the rest of the world.
The Answer Man
November 26th, 2012
4:27 pm
@GTBob: “We didn’t really have any trouble moving the ball against UGA.”
But Bobby, moving the ball really doesn”t matter if you never get it across the goal line. But hey, I think it is an AWESOME offense. PUH LEASE keep it!
SansWorld
November 26th, 2012
4:28 pm
Tech putting up 450+ yards in some ways indicates they had decent preparation for the game. Scoring only 10 points out of 450 yards is an indication of another problem beyond the game plan.
Technically Correct
November 26th, 2012
4:28 pm
Old Dog is very wise…
headley lamar
November 26th, 2012
4:28 pm
You think it will help recruiting if we refuse to play in the ACC championship and turn down a bowl invite?
Probably.
Playing in the game and having them watch you sure isn’t going to help.
Call it addition by subtraction.
Dadgum.....
November 26th, 2012
4:32 pm
Folks it’s all about coaching and recruiting. Kelly took over ND the same time CPJ did Tech. ND was in worse woes than Tech believe it or not. They were not getting the talent. Now look at them. Same if not stricter academics. Johnson will be a lame duck coach next year when the new AD arrives. He will not be extended.
GTBob
November 26th, 2012
4:33 pm
ND was in worse woes than Tech believe it or not.
Its not even remotely possible for Notre Dame to be in a worse position then GT at any time.
Dadgum.....
November 26th, 2012
4:35 pm
GT can’t refuse a bowl invite or ACC champ game as they are contractually bound when no other teams are available. Word.
old dog
November 26th, 2012
4:35 pm
of course you had more yards……we scored so quickly we did not even need that many posessions. The score of that game could have been much worse, and you all know it. @GTBob,,
Here is the insight you were asking for: WHAT YA’LL ARE DOING AIN’T WORKIN’!
Period! Push, pull, or whatever but do something! Try another coach who can recruit! Even if you cannot recruit with some of the upper-crust teams, the lack of talent on ya’lls d is mystifying. You are not bringing in D-1 recruits. Keep carrying on about how many yards ya’ll had…….the score could have been 85 to 3 if we wanted it to be, and the sad part is, you know it! We gave you a little TD on the scrubs, and that is fine…..no need to rub your nose in it! But if you keep sailing on this ship, you will learn the hard truth. It is much more than just a down year that we all have occasionally. It is abominable. I reckon’ there is a silver-lining though. with the present system, it will be difficult to get up for a game with you that you just might slip up on us once in a blue moon.
Get with the program, friends! You owe it to us, yourselves, and the State of Georgia to not be satisfyed with the current situation!
Montylick&ass
November 26th, 2012
4:36 pm
We had eleven possessions and got ten points, and seven of those were against the scrubs. I was at the game, and I certainly failed to see this wonderful offensive performance GTBob and SansWorld imagined. Once Godhigh had the ball ripped out, we never really looked like we were going to score any touchdowns.
GTBob
November 26th, 2012
4:36 pm
Playing in the game and having them watch you sure isn’t going to help.
So should GT give up football completely in an effort to improve recruiting?
Dadgum.....
November 26th, 2012
4:41 pm
GT Bob…..as they say you can look it up. The ND program about 5 years ago was terrible which is why they brought Kelly in. The shine was off the dome and the solid 4-5 star recruits were not going to ND. It’s always about the coach. Time for GT to realize that. Johnson has had plenty of time. Lost every bowl game. 1-5 against Georgia and worse against ranked teams. Wish everyone would quit apologizing for Johnson.
Tom
November 26th, 2012
4:42 pm
Tenuta is available with O’Brien being fired at NC State.PJ needs to swallow his pride and hire the guy and step aside.
GTBob
November 26th, 2012
4:42 pm
Push, pull, or whatever but do something! Try another coach who can recruit!
So your magic solution is to just hire a coach that can recruit? Gee, I wonder why we haven’t tried that in the past 50 years. For some reason UGA fans are convinced that if we fire CPJ that we will have top ten recruiting classes every year and begin competing with UGA on a regular basis. It isn’t going to happen like that. There is a reason that CPJ was hired in the first place that people tend to ignore.
We Own You
November 26th, 2012
4:43 pm
What a dork is GTBob…..so you moved the ball. Big deal, Clyde. They don’t give you points for moving the ball. You are pitiful. Tell us again how all your football players are scholars and those from other schools just don’t have what it takes to make it at the North Avenue Trade School. You are an epic loser.
Georgia Tech Runs this state
November 26th, 2012
4:47 pm
old dog, I think its time for your walk. We had the superior ground game Saturday. Just look at our stats. get over it.
headley lamar
November 26th, 2012
4:50 pm
So should GT give up football completely in an effort to improve recruiting?
No.
But the fewer games Tech plays on TV this year I think the better.
GT Willie
November 26th, 2012
4:51 pm
So we lost on the scoreboard. Big deal. We are winners and will always be. Next year its on. Can’t wait.
headley lamar
November 26th, 2012
4:51 pm
I would take the whole Tech academics argument a lot more serious if the graduation rates in Football and Basketball weren’t some of the worst in the country.
Obviously it isn’t that important Tech athletes graduate.
GTBob
November 26th, 2012
4:52 pm
The shine was off the dome and the solid 4-5 star recruits were not going to ND.
From 2006 to 2008 ND had six 5 star recruits, 38 4 star recruits and recruiting rankings of 8, 8, and 2. GT has never had a five star recruit or a top ten recruiting ranking. If that was ND at their worst then I would certainly take it at GT.