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
GTBob
November 26th, 2012
10:39 pm
for GTBob. Bob the object of the game is to SCORE POINTS not move the ball up and down the field.
I am fully aware of that. That wasn’t the topic of discussion earlier though. People are just taking what I said out of context and making up their own argument.
Gubber
November 26th, 2012
10:59 pm
Fire Paul Johnson dot com
Gubber
November 26th, 2012
11:01 pm
426 yards 10 points
That’s paul johnson football
Roddy Piper
November 26th, 2012
11:02 pm
First of all, I am a UGA fan, but not a troll. My dad was a huge GT fan and he passed away a few years ago and I would give ANYTHING to sit and watch one more game with him win or LOSE!! I do keep up with GT football and in my “opinion” this is some of GT’s issues. You have NO defense……wait (you already knew that) but I think a LOT of that is due to your offense! I don’t know if any DC can correct that with all the practice time against the TO and the type of recruits you pursue for the TO. How can a decent scout team run a “pro” style offense when you only have TO people in the stable. That being said you have a great offense, but I see that as your trade off!! To make it work you might need to find a DC with as odd of an defensive strategy as CPJ offense, like a Tenuta. Blitz like crazy to get some 3 and outs! The other thing I can’t help but notice is UGA now defines y’alls season. If we start loosing I am sure we would feel the same way but until thanksgiving UGA doesn’t really even think about y’all. Lastly let me say this, I would be honored for my kids to attend GT and the academics they offer. As a matter of fact, it will probably happen with my son, but this is about football and it is just an excuse here!
Gubber
November 26th, 2012
11:08 pm
49th
There’s the problem
http://rivals.yahoo.com/ncaa/football/recruiting/teamrank/2013/all/all
tankbustertechiedisgusting..i guess
November 27th, 2012
12:19 am
winning season…winning season!!!!!! we don’t need no stinking winning season….we got a bowl waiver senor. no sense kicking yourself in the rear…seems not to long ago tech would have loved to be compared with auburn now auburn is out of wins and coaching
(ps) i think chizic is available and dooley too….by the way where is that rascal ‘o’leary… really down in fla…does he do consulting!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
tankbustertechiedisgusting..i guess
November 27th, 2012
12:31 am
heres a flash for you (techiesankbusterlikemyself) when paul johnson helped to turn around hawaii there was no triple implosion and he used 2 star pineapple pickers he is flexible
tankbustertechiedisgusting..i guess
November 27th, 2012
12:50 am
lets see here if we play 14 games X 4 quarters is well how many quarters did we win(not counting the fcs debacle) seems easily we led in …DAMN paul you know i don’t like the smell of fish!!!!!!!!!
SKEPTICAL OBSERVER
November 27th, 2012
7:08 am
BOOZE HOUND
VT MAY BE RANCID …. BUT THEY BEAT GT – REMEMBER LABOR DAY
and … OH YEAH DIDN’T LOSE TO MTSU
Karl
November 27th, 2012
8:43 am
Paul Johnson …. Great offensive coordinator.
headley lamar
November 27th, 2012
11:39 am
So hedy lamar (or USMC Jacket or whatever you’re calling yourself these days), you claim your father and grandfather were Marines.
No
Grandfather served in US Navy for 25 years.
Father served in Air Force for same amount of time.
I took the asvab and was about to go through meps but ultimately decide it wasn’t for me.
Just to set the record straight.
GT Lee
November 27th, 2012
11:44 am
Either way, headly, how did the men in your family go from honorable military men to scumbag internet troll?
Reality
November 27th, 2012
1:21 pm
I almost hope that the number of pitiful anti-Tech posts here are from one person. I would hate to think that there is more than one person that is this much of an idiot.
On the other hand, it would be scary to think that there is more than one person with so much time on their hands and also so stupid.
The New ACC
November 27th, 2012
1:43 pm
I just have to put this out there…..
I will laugh and laugh if GA Tech goes to a BCS Bowl and UGA does not!!!!!
To move the ball
November 27th, 2012
2:35 pm
If UGA ended up with only 125 total yard BUT scored 11 points, They won.
All of the noise about GT total yards vs UGA comes up every year. That is really pathetic.
THE FINAL bkscore matters, not stats.
A-mazed
November 29th, 2012
7:44 am
I think the troll comments are probably by one person. Notice that they talk about how bad Tech is and never once mention that the Mutts are pretty damned good. I hate that, but it is true!
tech fan for life
November 29th, 2012
6:58 pm
PJ should do the honorable thing and declare a ban on Tech’s
Bowl Eligibility really Paul you do not deserve a bowl game
but a shot at the playoffs would be nice (hint – hint)
Write It Down.
November 29th, 2012
7:14 pm
If we do go to a bowl, I would prefer not to see one Senior (or anyone who is considering leaving the program) play. If we’re going to make this about experience, practice, and preparation for next year, then let’s do so.
This year, I went to fan appreciation day and I thanked Paul Johnson for what he has done for us. This season has been a very bitter pill to swallow for all of us. It’s hard to be thankful now.
I’ve seen CPJ adapt in the past. However, this is an uphill battle for him. We may have put him in a pay scale that causes him to become complacent – I don’t know. As I stated in a previous post, the light bulb came on for me during the UGA game. Recruiting ‘athletes,’ instead of position players is *not* getting it done.
I’ve heared sports analysts refer to two college coaches as ‘Evil Offensive Geniuses.’ One was Steve Spurrier. The other was Paul Johnson. However, Spurrier figured out the whole ‘Defense’ issue a long time ago. Under him, Duke, Florida, and South Carolina all played outstanding defense. Johnson, on the other hand, still seems to struggle with it.
In fairness, however, Johnson, nor we, have a crystal ball. Who knew Al Groh was going to combine defense and Quantum Physics to the point where there wasn’t a player who could understand how to play?
The more simpler math suggests Johnson needs to right the ship quickly. At the end of a game, when your opponent’s score reads ‘0,’ you win. I doesn’t matter if you score 2 points or 222 points — you win.
If he can’t pull it together, I hope Paul Johnson will do the honorable thing and resign. I want him to succeed at Tech. However, I will refuse to sit quietly if we return to the Bill Lewis days.
P.S. Headly,
Your mom called. When you finish work-release, stop by the store and pick up some smokes and condoms for her.