Four Tech-FSU thoughts
1. It was impressive, maybe even astounding, to see the defense go toe to toe with Florida State in the second half, keeping the Seminoles off the board for the final 30 minutes. The pass rush was effective, the tackling and hitting was solid and plays were made. Before Florida State’s final kneeldown, the Seminoles’ five possessions in the second half ended in punt, fumble, punt, fumble, interception.
After gaining 211 yards on 29 plays in the first half, FSU ran 29 plays in the second half, also, but only produced 117 yards. FSU coach Jimbo Fisher explained the second half offensive lapse with “self-inflicted wounds.” Whatever the reason, it was remarkable.
It speaks well for whatever interim defensive coordinator Charles Kelly and his staff did at halftime – the same thing happened against North Carolina and Duke – but also causes you to wonder what the defense could do if it played like that more consistently.
2. Regarding Tevin Washington/Vad Lee, I thought I heard sideline reporter Heather Cox saying that Johnson told her that both would play in the second half. Obviously, Washington played the entire half. I confess I didn’t ask about it, but will.
Had the 2-by-2 rotation continued, Lee would have been due to go into the game on Tech’s second possession of the second half, the one that the Jackets started on the FSU 49-yard line after Jabari Hunt-Days’ forced fumble (which was an excellent play) and lasted one play (interception by A-back Synjyn Days).
I would surmise that Paul Johnson saw something and wanted to ride Washington out, certainly after leading the drive after the interception that ended in a field goal. Perhaps at that point, the game became “his” to win or lose.
3. They get beaten up a lot, so the special teams units should get some acknowledgement. Tech’s starting points off of FSU’s four kickoffs were the 23, 25, 35 (out of bounds) and 34. Basically, 1-for-2, as two were out of Tech’s control, against a very good kickoff cover team. Jamal Golden had a 34-yard return on FSU’s final kickoff.
For FSU, it was the 25, 10 (FSU penalty, would have been the 19), 25, 30 and 26, also pretty good.
Kickers David Scully and Chris Tanner hit all three of the field-goal tries, the first time Tech made three in a game all season, though the Jackets attempted three or more only twice (although that was partly because Johnson lost confidence in the unit).
Tanner, a walk-on senior, is now 5-for-6. It’s too bad he’s only now getting a shot.
Sean Poole shanked his first punt, a 20-yarder that gave the Seminoles the ball on the Tech 43 and led to the opening touchdown, but his three punts after were some of the best of the season. Jamal Golden didn’t return any of FSU’s three punts.
4. Talking to players and Johnson after the game, they were obviously disappointed with the loss, but not down.
Particularly given the catastrophe in Athens, how the season has gone and how much better a team FSU is, it was perhaps to be expected. They made some critical mistakes, but still played off their feet and emptied their bucket.
“Never happy when you lose, but I told our guys that I was proud of their effort, so we’ll take that and try to move forward,” Johnson said.
Ken Sugiura, Georgia Tech blog
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79 comments Add your comment
GTFANINPA
December 2nd, 2012
12:47 pm
If GT could only play like they did in the second half. Good effort but they need to finish.
1 4 GT
December 2nd, 2012
12:47 pm
1 January 1981……………………………….and counting! HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA
Paul in NH
December 2nd, 2012
12:48 pm
At the half I, like, I am sure, most fans, thought we were going to see a 2nd half blow out. I am impressed by how hard GT played in the 2nd half.
GT-UT
December 2nd, 2012
12:55 pm
Thanks Ken… appreciate all the reporting on Sunday. Go jackets!
When the bowl game!
GT-UT
December 2nd, 2012
12:55 pm
Thanks Ken… appreciate all the reporting on Sunday. Go jackets!
Win the bowl game!
frustrated fan
December 2nd, 2012
1:16 pm
Thanks ken, i like this more positive article for the title game. Keep doing what you’re doing in terms of covering gt. You’re way better than the idiots at espn for covering gt.
Buzz Belle
December 2nd, 2012
1:19 pm
Thanks for your reporting Ken. I am still waiting for one picture on the front page of this paper showing GT and not uga. ONE picture. I have been watching since yesterday and 6:30 a.m. And nothing, nada, zero. What do we have to do to get coverage? I understand the bigger game was uga/ala but there are two colleges going for a conference championship and you are the only one talking about it. Shameful!
Buzz Belle
December 2nd, 2012
1:20 pm
But, I’d rather read you than mark or Jeff.
. Maybe I shouldn’t complain since we get the batter sports writer.
yeller bug
December 2nd, 2012
1:23 pm
Ken,
Thanks for your diligent, “blue collar” effort this year in your reports, insight and often successful attempts at humor. You have done a great job for the Yellow Jacket faithful!
This has been a ugly year, but aside from the MTSU game, the players have played hard and there are many bright spots for the future. A bowl win would break an ugly streak in that category and get us on a positive note for next year. So there’s work left to do. Go Jackets and end the season and start the next on a winning streak!
Jacket Dad
December 2nd, 2012
1:36 pm
Glad to see the Jackets not give up. The defense kicked it up a notch in the second half and did us proud. It’s a shame our offense could not do the same, but some of that should be attributed to FSUs defense – and Johnson’s play calling. Would have loved to see what Vad could have done, especially that last drive, but woulda, shoulda, coulda……. For whatever reason, CPJ is too hard-headed to adjust and doesn’t appear to want to play his best players. You can claim “he’s the one who sees them in practice, blah, blah, blah” but we see them in the games.
It was great seeing the Tech fans have something to cheer about toward the end of a game. I appreciate our players and just wonder what’s going on. I think they have given up on Johnson and his scheme. He doesn’t seem to inspire his players or fans. Hope to get a DC who is young and on fire and to actually win a bowl game.
GO JACKETS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
GT Fan
December 2nd, 2012
1:59 pm
EXCEPTIONAL defensive effort in the 2nd half!
I’m disappointed in PJ for not giving a Vad a 2nd half chance. But this is, unfortunately, becoming the norm for PJ, saying one thing then doing another.
GT Fan
December 2nd, 2012
2:07 pm
I hope the determination of permanent DC isn’t overly weighted by what the D did in the 2nd half. If coach Kelly can get these kids to play like that for 30 minutes, why not 60 minutes?
If GT’s D can play like last night’s 2nd half for the entire bowl game, especially if the opponent is USC, then coach Kelly deserves a serious look. Otherwise, I’ve gotta look elsewhere for a DC who can produce much better results than games like BYU, UNC, UGA, and FSU’s 1st half, all under coach Kelly’s watch.
Ken Sugiura
December 2nd, 2012
2:18 pm
thanks. you guys, as always, are too kind. being called “blue collar” and often successful at humor – that’s about the best i could ask for, yeller bug. by the way, i don’t recommend the burger king caesar salad, which i am just finishing eating somewhere near anderson, s.c. the “cheese” is like cardboard. hopefully, it’s merely like cardboard.
ToeMeetsLeather
December 2nd, 2012
2:28 pm
Nice effort by the Jackets, but bottom line, we are 6-7 and can’t compete with the nadlickers at he present time. Big season for CPJ next year. He has to hire a sound DC quickly and open up the playbook for Lee & Company, or we’ll be right back where we were with Gailey, if we aren’t already. What works against Duke and UVA doesn’t work against FSU and UGA. The plays are in the playbook, they just aren’t used enough or at the correct times, and at the end of each loss I have scratchted a new hole in my head wondering what Johnson was thinking at key possessions of the game.
Most everyone is back on both sides of the ball next year and it will be year six of the CPJ era. 2013 will define how successful Johnson can or will be at Tech.
Note: This would also be a good time for CPJ to work on his crusty personality.
TechApp fan
December 2nd, 2012
2:33 pm
Hard game to “figure out”. Johnson starts the game and ends the game passing with his best passer not in the game. Also, running the sweep with a small/fast A back to the short side of the field into a D that evidently was not expecting any passing and they were camping close to the line….seems….unexplainable.
Still wondering what Lee did to warrent no playing time.
TechApp fan
December 2nd, 2012
2:36 pm
warrant…for spell nazi
WnE
December 2nd, 2012
2:47 pm
re:
“Never happy when you lose, but I told our guys that I was proud of their effort, so we’ll take that and try to move forward,” Johnson said.
________________
Moral victories like this might play well at Service Academies where guys are being trained to become Military Leaders, but in the BCS where we pay HCs $2.6MM per year excuses like that don’t cut it.
At this level of CFB, WINNING is the only thing, as long as you stay within the rules of the NCAA.
So far this season Coach Moral Victory has us at 13-0 if you count moral victories and rushing yards and other insignificant criteria.
BTW, FSU played like crap in the 2nd half and kept GT around, our Defense wasn’t really better, so look for us to give up 40+ in any Bowl game we might play in especially if we have to play USCw in the Sun Bowl.
It is a huge stretch to go from us playing better Defense to FSU playing terrible on Off. in the 2nd half, I choose to see the facts , which is it was FSU playing like crap in the 2nd half.
To all the folks that liked to quote the phrase “20 wins in 2 years” when they were licking CPJ’s Boots in years 1 & 2, you now have a new phrase to quote; “19 losses in 3 years”, soon to be 20 BTW.
ibidGT
December 2nd, 2012
2:48 pm
Vad had his drives, didn’t do much with them. Tevin led the only TD drive. You all act 100% confident that Vad would’ve gotten a TD if he was in on the last game. Sides one 42 yard pass with blown coverage by FSU he didn’t do anything. One has to go all the way back to the UNC game to bring up any highlights of him.
I believe Vad is the better athlete and will surpass Tevin by miles down the road, but I have no idea what everyone was drinking to believe with such confidence that Vad would have led that last drive for a TD.
ibidGT
December 2nd, 2012
2:58 pm
It is a huge stretch to go from us playing better Defense to FSU playing terrible on Off. in the 2nd half, I choose to see the facts , which is it was FSU playing like crap in the 2nd half.
_____________
WRONG…a player doesn’t just fumble without getting smacked. A QB doesn’t get sacked because he runs into a linebacker. A RB doesn’t just stop running on the same play that in the 1st half earned him 10-15 yards. A 5 10″ DB doesn’t just get lucky and beat a taller and bigger receiver on a 1v1 situation for an interception.
GT defense played amazingly therefore the FSU offense seemed like crap. Not the other way around.
The Dream
December 2nd, 2012
2:59 pm
We were supposed to lose and the fact that we didn’t lie down when were so far down speaks volumes to me about what could have been. Hard to figure out the “whys” of this year, but that being said, I felt better today than I did last Sunday. Any chance that we have insight on the new defensive co-ordinator ? I hope it is someone with “real” name recognition and that recruiting for that side of the ball amps up. Good luck with whatever bowl we go to, whether we deserve it or not, I’ll see you there.
TechApp fan
December 2nd, 2012
3:09 pm
@ibid…we will never know what Lee could have done but he seems to be a better passing QB and that is what Johnson was calling…but TW does have a history of not much in games near the end when the pass just has to be completed.
Guess you were OK with TW being the man at the end.
ibidGT
December 2nd, 2012
3:17 pm
I honestly don’t think it mattered who was in there in the end, doubt either pulls it out. Think the inability to run an effective hurry up tempo, ineffective pass protection, lack of any home run threats, and throwing less than 5 times a game before that doesn’t help anyone when they have less than 2 minutes to put it in the endzone.
Nativebird
December 2nd, 2012
3:23 pm
This team or program will never move forward with this idiot as head coach. He has got to go.
Miamibound
December 2nd, 2012
3:28 pm
All this effort shows, as did the UF, FSU game did, is that FSU is one of the most overrated teams in America. And that the ACC is bush league!
GT Joe
December 2nd, 2012
3:32 pm
Ibid: if you can’t tell who the superior qb is, then no one can help you.
If you think that Tevin gave us an equal shot at winning on the last drive, then no one can help you.
If you think that vad is no better a passer than Tevin (which is whatwe needed on the last drive), if you thought Tevin was actually lead us to a final drive victory (which he has never done) instead of a final drive INT (WHICH he has done three times), then no one can help you.
Did you honestly think anything different would happen?
wreckbone
December 2nd, 2012
3:41 pm
I hope the Johnson haters Di bitty get their wish. He is not the problem. Those of you who expect a 50 /50 rivalry aren’t going to get it these days. uga sells too many tickets and has too many high recruits. We weren’t getting them before Johnson do its not his fault the recruiting is the same. Why you want to fire a coach that has a system others hate. Only need a feature a and b back for the next the yearsto be effective. E essentially moved the ball against top ten defenses and teams. Er just bed a couple Guys who can get 3rd and 3 or less. That is what 09 had. While I would jabber looked to see Vad in at the end I agree with Johnson..fsu secondary is not where your freshman beds to cut his teeth. Was hoping he would play especially in passing situations. Anyone who thinks Johnson didn’t field the players to give him the best opportunity to win doesn’t know this coach. You guys need to zip it and play in that old Brett Farve commercial….proud of the jackets in this game.
GT Joe
December 2nd, 2012
3:49 pm
Wreckbone, keep drinking the cpj koolaid. After watching vad versus unc, if still agree with cpj that tevin is the man, you have issues.
ibidGT
December 2nd, 2012
3:49 pm
I already stated Vad is a better athlete. If it makes you feel better I ALSO MEANT A BETTER PASSER.
And no I honestly don’t think anything different happens whether Vad or Tevin are in. Both probably end without a TD. The only difference is Vad probably overthrows a receiver by 20 yards leading to an int as opposed to the int Tevin threw.
We needed much more than a good passer on the last drive to get a TD. Think the system had much more to do with the outcome than the man behind the center thus I don’t see it appropriate to lay it all on Tevin when there are bigger factors in play.
GT Joe
December 2nd, 2012
3:56 pm
Ibid: did you not watch vad turn in the best qb performance of the cpj era AT UNC, a top 20 defense at the time? Did you not see him lead us to a td after the pick 6, where a mere mortal freshman would have choked? That kid showed more leadership in one game than tevin in his whole career.
That last throw by tevin was an embarrassment to tech football. And so predictable. We’ve seen it his whole career. Heck, his first game ended with a pick to end the game. First game This year ended the same way. And now the acc title game too?
WORSE. THAN. REGGIE. BALL.
GT Joe
December 2nd, 2012
4:03 pm
ALSO, for those who say vad didn’t look great: cpj is setting him up for failure with this stupid Platooning. I called it on the blogs before the uga game: if we play tevin 2 drives, then put in vad, vad will come in with a 14-0 or 21-0 deficit (turned out to be 21-3). Same thing vs. Fsu, and vad came in with a 14-3 deficit.
Burn the first 2 drives on tevin, and we lose against a good team. Guaranteed.
Paul in NH
December 2nd, 2012
4:10 pm
Good to see WnE telling everyone that the only thing that counts is WINNING. I wonder if he is posting the same thing under whatever his Dawg handle is over on the UGA blogs.
GT Joe
December 2nd, 2012
4:12 pm
In football, what else matters than winning?
AJGT2K
December 2nd, 2012
4:22 pm
Yet another loss where the last GT offensive snap is a Tevin interception. Good riddance
Delbert D.
December 2nd, 2012
4:27 pm
In the NFL, ties matter. Check the NFC West.
GT Joe
December 2nd, 2012
4:30 pm
Ajgt2k: well we’re not rid of him yet. Cpj will.waste the bowl game on tevin too.
Delbert D.
December 2nd, 2012
4:42 pm
What’s with Doug Roberson? I’m reading the AJC print Sunday paper, and he has an article titled, “Coach says Crime Tide players earned a break.”
GT Jeff
December 2nd, 2012
4:52 pm
After watching just about all of GT’s football games under CPJ’s watch for the past five seasons, I have developed several opinions. Most importantly, I do NOT believe CPJ can recruit well enough to return to the level of success he enjoyed in 2008 and 2009 with CCG’s players. Second, since CPJ has not been able to improve GT’s defensive play for five seasons, I do NOT believe he will EVER be able to do it. Finally, while CPJ’s TO offense has been very effective at running the ball against weak opponents and winning those games, this offense will NEVER be able to CONSISTENTLY run the ball enough to WIN against good football teams. To summarize, with CPJ, what you see is what you got, and there is no reason to expect anything different as long as CPJ is the HC at GT.
Born2Buzz
December 2nd, 2012
4:57 pm
Lets move on to basket ball.
flexbone 45
December 2nd, 2012
4:59 pm
@ibidgt Having the correct qb in could not be more important.
Born2Buzz
December 2nd, 2012
4:59 pm
GTJeff, agree 100%. But we will go through this again next year.
Unless the new AD wants his own guy. The problem is we could end up like Maryland.
greg
December 2nd, 2012
5:05 pm
pj is an idiot. puts in the worst passer and of course he throws an int. if you’re forced to throw the ball, you better put in the better passer. not this moron coach
chas_jacket
December 2nd, 2012
5:21 pm
A strong effort by the jackets – the D looked inspired in the 2nd half. Wonder if the bowl game will be Kelly’s final test for consideration as DC?
Everyone can forget about CPJ being replaced with his buyout $. We’ll see how things turn out with Vad and Justin next year. I think the Offense should definitely be better with a more consistent passing threat – who knows about the defense although Kallon should help. Still think he should have played this year.
Funny the moral victory comments from the dog trolls – how about a little appreciation for both Georgia teams who played with a lot of heart and just came up short
Tech man in Athens
December 2nd, 2012
5:27 pm
GT Jeff, also agree. I’ve followed Tech, lived and died with them sine the 50s. CPJ sticking with TW is like Gailey and Reggie Ball. Ball was good enough to play extremely well, but for every touchdown he scored, he gave one back. TW is a tough, gutsy player who I admire. But he can only give you what he’s got talent wise. Vad Lee is the only true talent CPJ has recruited and he has almost wasted him this year because CPJ just wants clean hand offs and no fumbles. What that gives you is beating, like you said, the teams we can outman. Vad Lee gives us a chance to win one we are not supposed to win, like FSU last night. I thought CPJ was a gambler, but he has shown me he doesn’t have the guts to gamble on the future, Vad Lee, in case TW can pull one out. He never does. CPJ has taken the easy road and diehard Tech fans like me have to watch us lose games over and over because of he stubborn stance on TW. We will never see another Damarius Thomas or Jonathan Dwyer quality player again. We no longer have or will have the break away B Back because we have a bevy of average speed, average size B Backs who tough out single digit runs at best. We are so inferior with talent (especially against UGA players) it’s a joke. I hate to say this, but after decades of losing to UGA I realize (stupid me) that we will NEVER beat UGA or dominate any team again except some lousier ACC opponent. Fact is, FSU just didn’t bring their game last night. They came not to lose and thankfully our players came to play. It still would have been a miracle if we had won, and I hate to say it, but it would have been a shame if we had. I actually looked forward to the Bama/UGA game much more than watching Tech play. All this from a man who has loved Tech football all his life and followed every season for 50 plus years. I hope to God that the GT Athletic Board reads this and understands the CPJ is letting our football tradition go to dust.
sheepdawg
December 2nd, 2012
5:28 pm
get a new coach and hope the big 10 invite is on the way
Proud to Have Been in Charlotte
December 2nd, 2012
5:28 pm
I, too, have suffered with Tech’s inconsistency this season. I also do not disagree with the frustrations shared by many regarding a stubborn coach who is not making use of all of his talent. Perhaps Vad Lee will be the second coming of Joe Hamilton or Shawn Jones; perhaps he will not. Perhaps, if Tech could recruit even 1 or 2 NFL caliber defensive players (and a good DC), then there is a chance that the losses do not fall like they did this year. Even with that talent in the past, losses still have occurred.
However, despite all of the frustrations I have read on this board for weeks, I still chose to go to Charlotte and support the team. I was sitting in Charlotte in the Tech end zone one row behind the students. At 21-3, they were still standing cheering wildly as the tide appeared ready to turn. I stood with the students the entire game while many other Tech fans sat down and watched from their seats (something I have also seen in Bobby Dodd). Whatever you may say about the coaches and play calling this season, the players on the team played their hearts out. Even when they were down 21-3, they were jumping up all over the side lines. They were fired up and wanted to win and play their hearts out for their fans…and in my opinion they did. I will not argue that Vad is not a better passer or should have at least been playing in the second half. However, I do not agree with people who want to bash the players. Whether it is Tevin Washington or hated rival Aaron Murray, people often forget that these students give their all in these games. It is much easier to play sofa quarterback than to be on a field running like crazy from some seriously big men while trying to throw a pass quick and efficient to another guy running really fast. I really wish that the ending had been different. I felt my heart sink at the end when the pass was intercepted and I knew that FSU won the game. However, as others walked out of the game, I stood one last time and applauded the team for working as hard as they could to try to come back from what I felt was going to be a huge blowout and at least give a chance at winning the game at the end.
We can all sit here and complain about the play calling, the use/misuse of talent, and whether or not CPJ should stay or go, but at the very least, remember that those guys played hard that second half and never quit. Complain all you want about the coach, but support the team! Now, let’s get a bowl win, all get behind Vad, and get ready for 2013! Go Jackets!
GT Joe
December 2nd, 2012
5:34 pm
Proud: No one on here is bashing players. We are bashing CPJ. If you really cared about the players, you would be just as mad as we are at CPJ for destroying/wasting years of their football careers with stubbornness, arrogance, and sometimes, flat out ignorance.
GT TN
December 2nd, 2012
5:59 pm
@GT Joe..you are so full of it..all you do is bash Tech players..you never say a single thing positive about anyone except Vad..you must not watch the game..you are keep using Vad performance at UNC..UNC defense that let a LB playing QB score over 30 points..Vad got his chance and blew it last night..on the 1st series he had Bostic open for a 1st down and instead he gets scared and leaves the pocket and gets sacked..if he would have just made the short throw he would have gotten a first down but he didnt do that..on 3rd down he is suppose to run the option to the short side of field where we had the numbers in our favor..the DB was on the ground and instead of pitching he turned the back inside..anyone that knows anything about the option knows that the backside DE is unblocked…you cant turn the option back inside..if he ran the play he might not have gotten the 1st down but he might have gotten close to a first so we could have gone for it on 4th down..your boy days has a chance to make a play and threw into double coverage..
EVERYONE who says fire CPJ..please give me a name of who to hire..there are at least 5 better jobs out there than GT..so do you want to hire the 6 or 7th best option ou there..please have more a brain than GT Joe and give me a better name than Chizik or Dooley
Miamibound
December 2nd, 2012
6:03 pm
It makes me feel powerful and witty to come onto Tech/ACC articles and talk trash. I giggle like a little school girl after I make my comments.
GIVE ME A BREAK
December 2nd, 2012
6:07 pm
GT Jeff, you saved me a lot of typing. Thanks. ” GO JACKETS “
chas_jacket
December 2nd, 2012
6:12 pm
GT Joe – you have “bashed” Tevin many times – it’s not his fault he is playing. He put forth a lot of effort to win the starting job this year and while his passing has been horrendous at times, he probably got the nod over Vad based on execution and turnovers – not because of sucking up to CPJ or something similar. I also think CPJ is a bit arrogant – but he wants to win and will put the players on the field that he thinks will give us the best chance. CPJ is stubborn but will change – as evidenced by hiring a ST coordinator.
If we don’t see at least 8 wins next year, I will join the we need a new coach crowd – although I don’t really contribute enough to the GTAA to have much of a say. I assume everyone clamoring for a new coach is contributing much more than I am.
Alabama Jack
December 2nd, 2012
6:33 pm
Proud – great post. I second every word.
TechLB
December 2nd, 2012
6:44 pm
I say, new AD lays down the law, improve, especially on Defense – or you’re out.
For those pushing to fire Paul check this study reported in the WSJ:
New Coach, Old Results
Every year, about 10% of top-level college-football teams fire their coaches because of poor performance and then wait for the wins to start coming in. A new study’s message: Don’t hold your breath.
A trio of political scientists studied teams in college football’s Bowl Subdivision from 1997 to 2010, using statistical techniques to compare teams that fired their coach to teams that didn’t, over a period of four years following the change.
Very poorly performing teams improved a little, but only briefly, while mediocre teams—those with a roughly .500 record—actually got worse. While some teams improved with a new coach, others improved with the old coach. “The relatively common decision to fire head college football coaches for poor team performance may be ill-advised,” the researchers wrote.
“Pushing ‘Reset’: The Conditional Effects of Coaching Replacements on College Football Performance,” E. Scott Adler, Michael J. Berry, David Doherty, Social Science Quarterly (October)
Techwood Homes Jacket
December 2nd, 2012
6:50 pm
I drove to Charlotte for the game, and frankly, the effort shown in the second half by the players and coaches made it all worthwhile. I don’t think I ever saw this season the kind of excitement from the Tech players on the sideline late in the game. It gives me hope for a good showing in the bowl game. As always, my Jackets win or lose!
Yellow Jacket AJ
December 2nd, 2012
7:00 pm
Ken, you did a good job this year unfortunately we stunk it up again. I’d appreciate some pieces on what we need to do to get back into the top 10 and stay there. I’ll prime the pump by saying we need to recruit most of our players outside Georgia like Bobby Cremmins and Bobby Ross did. We also need to make defense our primary focus. CPJ can’t get it done because he’s not the Head Coach, he’s the Offensive Coordinator. We are paying him BCS money and should expect 10 wins every year and a conference title every 3-4 years. If he can’t deliver he should go. If he wants to win the alumni and student support he needs he better start making some dramatic changes.
chas_jacket
December 2nd, 2012
7:08 pm
TechLB – Interesting information – I often wondered and suspected as much. It takes a long time to build a program and having a revolving door in the coaching position seems to be counter productive at times. I still don’t see the huge drop off in recruiting talent under CPJ based on Rivals rankings – except for the one year. I really think the offfense played pretty well this year despite not having much of a passing threat – a critical shortcoming in keeping defenses honest. Who we get for a DC will be key – I like Kelly’s approach but not sure he is the right man for the job.
GT Fan
December 2nd, 2012
7:34 pm
Gotta find a way to get last night’s 2nd half defense to show up WAY MORE often in 2013!
GT TN
December 2nd, 2012
7:35 pm
@Yellowjacket AJ..you cant compare basketball rec and football rec..you need to change your team if you think the coach should win 10 games a year..hardly any colleges avg 10 wins a season
Flowery Branch Yellow Jacket
December 2nd, 2012
8:02 pm
I’ve been a fan of GA Tech since Eddie Lee Ivery was there in the late 70’s. I suffered through the first years of the Bill Curry regime as well as the Bill Lewis era. I was on campus during the early days of Bobby Cremins. At that time, in an effort to fill the AMC, Cremins would encourage students to come see Ralph Sampson, Michael Jordan, and some of the other greatest players in the country … because he knew no one would show up just to watch Tech play!
I’ve discovered over the years that life can be very frustrating as a Yellow Jacket. There are occasional seasons that turn out better than expected (most significantly the year-end UPI # 1 ranking and the NCAA tournament final game). Much more frequently, however, Tech fans seem destined to endure seasons such as this one; seasons when there seems to be the potential for much more, but the potential remains unfulfilled.
I’ve seen enough over the last few years to know that CPJ is a very good football coach. Might he be better as an offensive coordinator? I don’t know. He certainly needs to focus more attention to defense and special teams. As in the Duke and UNC games, our defense last night showed their true potential; but only in the second half. I wish I knew what it would take to get a full 4-quarter game from that squad. For that matter, if we could get a good 3-quarter effort, it would be enough to ensure a victory in probably 10 out of 12 games.
Despite their problems … OUR problems … I will continue to cheer for and support the Yellow Jackets … win or lose. I love my alma mater, and can relate to the difficult task of being a student athlete while working toward a Tech degree. As for the results that really matter, I hope that each of our athletes will graduate. I also hope that they can compete with anyone else in the country … not necessarily win every game, but at least be competitive, putting themselves in a position to win. Ten times this season, our football team has done just that, despite suffering maddening losses to VA Tech, Miami, Clemson, and FSU.
For those who live in the Atlanta area, let me encourage you to fill McCamish Pavilion this week for the basketball game against the Dogs. I believe we have the more talented team, and I expect them to win … but they could use a good home crowd cheering them on! Make sure you’re a part of it!
Ben
December 2nd, 2012
8:04 pm
Good game, better than I expected. Gives me hope for next season, maybe our defense will finally be able to stop someone. I think Vad would have done a better job in the 4th and given us a better chance to win the game, but Tevin did have that one fantastic throw, so who knows?
St. Richt
December 2nd, 2012
8:12 pm
Stop with the sunshine pump people- this coach and his pop Warner offense needs to go! His stubborn arss can’t evolve his offense and can’t pick talent for s–t. I’m not sure who the supporters are out there because personally I know of none. And I’m an ex player and alumni.
St. Richt
December 2nd, 2012
8:16 pm
Tevin is a quality back up and from all accounts a good kid. But anybody who didn’t see that late game choke job coming last night needs to pull their head out… That is what tevin does- not to mention he throws like a girl. Harsh yes, but true.
St. Richt
December 2nd, 2012
8:18 pm
Did anybody ask him WTHhe was doing when he squatted down before throwing that duck of a pick last night? Looked like he was trying to pinch a loaf while throwing a softball to first base…
St. Richt
December 2nd, 2012
8:23 pm
Anybody know who’s gonna beat us in the bowl game yet?
Love GT Joe pointing out...
December 2nd, 2012
8:29 pm
…the Vad had a terrific game against that UNC defense that was “ranked in the top 20 at the time” – that is the same UNC defense that the next week gave up what – over 40 points – to a MD team that was still using a TRUE FRESHMAN LINEBACKER as their starting QB –
Nice try GT Joe…we all saw that Vad sucked when given his chance against both UGA and FSU…but, maybe with the extra time to practice before the bowl game, Vad will improve – but, oh, yeah, he is NOT a practice player, as GT Joe has told us numerous times, so improvement is not likely…
St. Richt
December 2nd, 2012
8:39 pm
What game were you watching moron to say that Vad sucked? I must’ve missed it… Tevin couldn’t hold Reggie balls jock strap..
St. Richt
December 2nd, 2012
8:41 pm
Vad still hasn’t gotten a fair chance because of CPJs man love for Twinkle Toes Tevin.
chas_jacket
December 2nd, 2012
8:47 pm
going to the Sun bow against USC per ESPN
AlabamaRamblinwreck
December 2nd, 2012
8:58 pm
PJ’s stubbornness in not using Vad in obvious passing situations, like our last drive is beyond maddening!!! He may been an offensive mastermind, but all I can say is that the PJ/Tevin partnership is starting to remind me of Chan and Reggie. I don’t see any logic that can be expressed to understand PJ’s lack of wanting to use a young QB with a big arm??? Is it like, “he is more likely to throw an interception.” If so, he must be immune to watching Tevin.
St. Richt
December 2nd, 2012
9:06 pm
Where did the couple of CPJ supporters go? I find it hard to believe there are any left…
St. Richt
December 2nd, 2012
9:07 pm
I’m having nightmares of the QB follow w Tevin.
Peach Fuzz
December 2nd, 2012
9:09 pm
I keep seeing refs to defense against UNC. Did they not hang 50 on Tech?
GT79MD83
December 2nd, 2012
9:38 pm
TW had a pretty good game last night. He played as well as I have seen him play. He did miss wide open Godhigh in the end zone. The interception at the end of the game was predictable.The reason I did not go to Charlotte was CPJ, who I actually like at times.I do not trust his playcaliing.His playcalling at times is braindead like the three and out our first possession in the 3rd Quarter.When Vad is in the game use his gifts. Throw the ball more.All passes do not have to be bombs. Punting after running three plays up the middle for 1 or 2 yards in no different than incomplete passes.CPJ trusts TW more to run the option. CPJ believes that it will work against any team. When you are outmanned you should try something differentWhen we play a real good team and we seem to get the same outcome everytime.
92MGT
December 2nd, 2012
10:26 pm
I think everyone is overlooking some key issues. 1. We need assurance that the ACC is going to be around. if not, we need to be proactive and move to SEC or elsewhere before other ACC teams go. 2. We need to make the right hire at AD. Someone looking for a stepping stone to another job is not the answer. How about a Georgia Tech grad and athlete. 3. Once that person is in place, that person needs to have input on the Def Coordinator hire. 4. Spend time recruiting key defensive players and get JUCO players to fill in certain positions, specifically defensive linemen. 5. We need to methodically rebuild this program and it starts with putting fans in the seats. We don’t have 50,000 students like some schools. We need to create new fans from the local market that did not graduate from Tech, like some other schools we know. Our mindset needs to be playing great defense, going undefeated as a goal every year, not hoping to go 7-5 or 8-4 and making excuses. The school up the road can be beaten. We beat them 4 times in a 8 year period starting in 1990 so it can be done.
WnE
December 3rd, 2012
12:05 am
re:
TechLB
December 2nd, 2012
6:44 pm
I say, new AD lays down the law, improve, especially on Defense – or you’re out.
For those pushing to fire Paul check this study reported in the WSJ:
New Coach, Old Results
Every year, about 10% of top-level college-football teams fire their coaches because of poor performance and then wait for the wins to start coming in. A new study’s message: Don’t hold your breath.
A trio of political scientists studied teams in college football’s Bowl Subdivision from 1997 to 2010, using statistical techniques to compare teams that fired their coach to teams that didn’t, over a period of four years following the change.
Very poorly performing teams improved a little, but only briefly, while mediocre teams—those with a roughly .500 record—actually got worse. While some teams improved with a new coach, others improved with the old coach. “The relatively common decision to fire head college football coaches for poor team performance may be ill-advised,” the researchers wrote.
“Pushing ‘Reset’: The Conditional Effects of Coaching Replacements on College Football Performance,” E. Scott Adler, Michael J. Berry, David Doherty, Social Science Quarterly (October)
________________
I find it amazing that I never saw any articles like this when it came time to fire Chan.
All that was important then was his string or 7-5 or 7-6 records, now we have CPJ making $2.6MM vs. Chan’s paltry $1.0MM and now we want to pull out the excuses and “analysis” that says firing HCs is a bad move.
Simple question:
Which coaching job this season is better; Chan’s 5-7 in the AFC East or CPJ’s 6-7 in the crappy ACC?
The reason that many BLTs don’t want to get rid of CPJ is that he’s smug and makes snarky remarks about UGA (Wal-Mart Jobs, etc) and that kind of wit plays to the massive insecurities that many in the GT fanbase have towards the school that has beaten us so frequently in FB.
20 losses in 3 yrs .after USCw gets finished with us, and many here still won’t pull the trigger on firing this guy!
You avg. 6 losses per season for a 3-yr. stretch in a WEAK Conf. like the ACC and that merits termination, not more time!
The GT fanbase is pathetic to put up with Pajamas!
Rooty Tooty
December 3rd, 2012
9:41 am
Didn’t see the first half but was proud of the D in the second half. Don’t understand CPJ scheem of tossing the ball the length of the field towards end of the game. Take the % play.
EXCUSES
December 3rd, 2012
11:48 am
I just wish all our players would play with the fire & passion of “Jehmia Thomas ” #40 in this game but #14 the rest of the season , this kid will play in the NFL one day .You can take the rest of the defense & replace them next year along with our EGOcentric coach !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
THWG !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Buzz2011
December 3rd, 2012
12:26 pm
Thanks for your reporting this year for GT.. GT will be really good next
year, really good!
HateTheUnis
December 3rd, 2012
12:58 pm
Can we please close the book on these hideous uniforms? When you look like a clown you play like a clown!
Enochs
December 3rd, 2012
1:10 pm
We could have won this game-were it not for our receiver having one foot out of bounds at the goal line
AND a pass overthrown in the end zone. Great 2nd half defense! Why would PJ try a “trick play”
throwing to Tevin when we had to momentum after the turnover? Doesn’t make sense-should have kept running the ball and we would probably have scored & WON!