UPDATED: Tech draws USC in Sun Bowl
UPDATED, 11:26 p.m. – A day after a tough but encouraging loss to Florida State in the ACC Championship game, Georgia Tech learned Sunday it will play another formidable opponent in familiar surroundings for its bowl game.
The Yellow Jackets were booked Sunday for another week in El Paso, Texas, for the Dec. 31 Sun Bowl. Tech, which lost in overtime to Utah last year in the Sun Bowl, will play Southern California in a game to be broadcast on CBS.
In their 16th consecutive bowl – tied with Georgia for the fifth longest active streak in the country – the Jackets will try to stop their seven-game bowl losing streak.
“I think we had a great trip last time, all except for losing the game in overtime,” coach Paul Johnson said. “I know that USC will be a formidable opponent with a lot of tradition, and Coach (Lane) Kiffin is an outstanding coach with some outstanding players, so that’ll be a huge challenge.”
USC began the season No. 1 and started 6-1 but collapsed down the stretch with four losses in its final five games of the regular season to finish 7-5. The Trojans and Jackets have one similarity – their seasons resulted in job losses for their NFL veteran defensive coordinators. For Tech, it was Al Groh, fired after six games and 2 ½ seasons. Monte Kiffin, father of coach Lane Kiffin, has resigned and will coach his final game in El Paso.
It will be the third consecutive game that Tech plays a team stocked with NFL talent, following Georgia and Florida State. Pending the decisions of a few juniors, the Trojans could have as many as five players taken in the first two rounds of the draft. The most notable is quarterback Matt Barkley, whom Kiffin said he expected to play after suffering a shoulder injury in the Trojans’ Nov. 17 loss to UCLA.
“I’m sure they’ll be excited to have a chance to play a program like USC,” Johnson said of his players.
Having played the Sun last year, Tech officials offered to the ACC to waive the rule that protects the ACC title-game loser from falling no lower than the Sun, which has third pick of ACC teams after the BCS bowls.
“I don’t think that was ever part of the discussion,” said Sun Bowl executive director Bernie Olivas of working with the ACC to allow Tech to drop. “We knew what the contract said. We were going to abide by the contract.”
The Chick-fil-A Bowl, which has first pick of ACC teams after the BCS games, took Clemson after it was passed over by the BCS bowls. The Tigers will play LSU. The Russell Athletic Bowl selected Virginia Tech to play Rutgers, leaving Georgia Tech for the Sun. The final two matchups were Duke-Cincinnati in the Belk Bowl and N.C. State-Vanderbilt in the Music City Bowl. FSU plays Northern Illinois in the Orange Bowl.
It won’t be an easy trip for fans. On travel website kayak.com, the least expensive flight listed Sunday evening that departed Atlanta Dec. 29 and returning Jan. 1 was a nonstop Delta round trip for $472. For Dec. 30-Jan. 1, it was an American Airlines round trip with a layover in Dallas-Fort Worth for $584.
It’s a 1,400-mile drive from Atlanta, a drive made last year, among others, by the family of former team captain Steven Sylvester and the outgoing and incoming drivers of the Ramblin’ Wreck.
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184 comments Add your comment
Willard Shmekel
December 2nd, 2012
10:52 pm
Has Tech no pride? The Sun Bowl was FORCED to take Tech after NCAA morons granted a waiver for the losing team to be bowl-eligible and Tech jumped at the chance for bonus money. I hope USC embarrasses Tech on the field.
o-my
December 2nd, 2012
10:59 pm
I’m sure they wont sell out..lol
xx
December 2nd, 2012
11:09 pm
“Our players and coaches are excited about earning another bowl bid and for the opportunity to play a traditionally powerful team in Southern California,” coach Paul Johnson said in a statement. “The hospitality shown to us last year by the Sun Bowl and the people of El Paso was fantastic.”
Weee…….I am such a sucky coach they award mebowls for being a total douche bag.
1 4 GT
December 2nd, 2012
11:09 pm
Good grief but I get sick from all of these “long time Tech fans = 30-40-50-60 year fans” and their whining and crying negative comments. Well, I was born a GT fan on Nov. 3, 1944 and I’ll by God die a Gt fan. The guys are my horse if they never win a race. I may get discouraged and disappointed and pout for a day or two after a loss, but next home game I’m there cheering them on. Either get on board or get lost. Grow a pair and be fans or shut the hell up!
1 4 GT
December 2nd, 2012
11:11 pm
Oh yeah, if the shoe fits wear it. Y’all know if I’m talking to you or not!
A-mazed
December 2nd, 2012
11:16 pm
I am not happy with the teams results either, but we are doing about what we have done on the average for the last 40 years or a little better. Lets see if Paul Johnson can get some improvement in the next few years. Kid yourself not; We will never again recruit the athletes it takes to consistently be in the top 10. Nor should we.
And in case nobody noticed, GA is pretty damned good. I hate it.
Dwayne C
December 2nd, 2012
11:17 pm
Three things immediately come to mind for me here:
1. GA Tech, with a 6-7 won-loss record, doesn’t deserve to play in ANY bowl game
2. the Sun Bowl must be desperate if they have decided to include GA Tech in their bowl game this year
3. GA Tech’s performance in this game will be different than last year’s Sun Bowl, a game they were competitive in against Utah: in this game GA Tech will be lose handily to Southern Cal.
I’m done.
JC
December 2nd, 2012
11:23 pm
Well the shoe fits me and I am wearing it – just not to that flats on saturdays anymore. The coach accepts mediocrity and it shows with the team effort. New coach, I will reconsider picking up my season tix again. 6-7, had to get a waiver to platy a bowl game, forced a deserving team out of a bowl with the waiver, home loss to MTSU and hammered yet again by UGA – I am done.
ibidGT
December 2nd, 2012
11:26 pm
I’m excited, should be a great game to watch.
And I second what you said 1 4 GT.
Clyde
December 2nd, 2012
11:27 pm
Who cares what their record is! They got into a bowl, playing on national television, during the holidays against a historically great college program. What’s to complain about? It’s TW’s last game, the season is a wash anyway. Almost time to suffer through several months of nothing but basketball, hockey and baseball on the television. Thank goodness for NASCAR.
Paul in NH
December 2nd, 2012
11:28 pm
Some interesting commens about how GT should refuse to go to a bowl. As a member of the ACC who is bowl eligible, GT is obliged to go to a bowl – the conference could not fill their slots . GT is not like UM who withdrew from bowls this year to lessen any blowfrom the NCAA
Paul in NH
December 2nd, 2012
11:32 pm
GT is 1-2 all ime against USC.
Date Opponent (record) Result Score
9/22/1973 Southern California (9-2-1) L 6-23
10/25/1969 @ Southern California (10-0-1) L 18-29
9/22/1961 @Southern California (4-5-1) W 27-7
ignition
December 2nd, 2012
11:32 pm
How did this happen ??
This is gonna be a slaughter..
hjacket
December 2nd, 2012
11:40 pm
1 4 GT
Bravo Zulu for your comments and loyalty.
Hope we can purchase tickets for the military again like last year.
FORMATION 4 SUCCESS
December 3rd, 2012
12:06 am
I’m upset about the progress of our team as the rest of you, that said, please stop speaking negatively about those things that are positive. Going to a bowl game and getting an opponent like USC is a positive thing. Remember how everyone complained about the Braves not winning Championships. That was followed up with no post season playoffs for a couple of years. Anyway, this game needs to be about Vad Lee not Tevin. Thank you Tevin we appreciate you and all that you have done, now is the time to pass the torch and support your boy Vad. Vad work hard on your game. Your ability to pass needs to be backed up with your ability to be extremely accurate. Relax and throw to the receiver. Don’t get into bad habits of just throwing where you think the receiver is or aiming the ball. This offense is such a potent offense if played right. I see it every game. A missed block an errand route or pass, are the only things that make this offense seem inept. Get it together guys and have fun in El Paso. And remember, TECH IS STILL THE LAST TEAM IN THIS STATE TO WIN A NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP!!! We really need to stop losing to those mutts and start regaining some respect on the FLATS. Oh, the only reason we are struggling is because the legacy bloodline has been broken. The mentality and know how of the 1990 program was severed by Dave Brain. DRad, Wayne Clough, and CPJ are all great in there own right but there is no one in the GTAA program that can tell these boys what it takes to win a championship. Why that is? Go figure. All I know is Coaches and AD’s come and go but those that Bleed White and Gold are not to be found on staff anywhere. Remember just because you played on a team or attended GT doesn’t mean you are loyal to the success of the program. It has to be embedded in soul. That is only when you Bleed White and Gold. GO JACKETS!!!
John driver
December 3rd, 2012
12:06 am
A 6-7 team going to a bowl? Are you kidding me? You Tech people have no shame! You should’ve turned it down! This team is not deserving of a bowl!
Tech Forever
December 3rd, 2012
12:12 am
I agree with 1 4 GT. Tech is what Tech is……and it will never be 1920 to 1960 again. So you either accept it and get on board and ceer for the program or not. But getting worked up over the things of GT football that will never be aren’t worth it. For you long time alums just keep being a fan of the Jackets. As a sidewalk fan I have no ties to Tech except for family attending there and my love of football. So it’s ultra frustrating for me because I recognize what Tech needs to do to keep up with the Joneses but I also recognize why you guys are resistant to making those changes. Like I told a friend…..just realize this means the sidewalk support for GT will continue to decline each and every decade. I’m pretty sure it’s about donw to nothing now and I’d be shocked if there were more than a couple thousand non-alum season ticket holders.
Having said that, USC will beat Tech by at least 14…..we have absolutely no way of scout teaming that offense in practice and Kiffin will throw out all the stops.
WnE
December 3rd, 2012
12:14 am
re:
Paul in NH
December 2nd, 2012
9:35 pm
Matt Barkley Marqise Lee, Robert Woods and Silas Redd against the GT D? Uh oh.
________________
Those names shouldn’t mean anything special, after all, CPJ the genius himself doesn’t put much stock in Recruiting Rankings anyway.
Each Feb. he tells us, “they all come highly regarded” while he yuks it up with Wes and the GT fanbase just eats it up, and then when we play UGA or USCw, then we talk about all the “future NFL guys” on the other team.
19 losses in 3 years (USCw will make 20 if it occurs), given how WEAK the ACC is, in YOUR OPINION Paul does CPJ deserve to keep his job?
Please let us know where you stand.
ChiefGT
December 3rd, 2012
12:16 am
All of you “GT Fans” need to shut the hell up, if you are truly a fan of any team you stick by them through thick and thin. Even when you have a bad season you continue to go out and cheer the team on. Grow a pair and start supporting the team. And all of you UsicGA fans under Tech alias need to get a life. This is more than about CPJ its about the players as well. They started out at 2-4 and fought back to go to 4-2 in the second half. They havent shown any signs of giving up and they sure showed that they have the ability to play up to par with a school that recruits far better than them in FSU. The players deserve to play in a bowl game that they earned and due to Miami imposing bowl bans they were thrown into a CCG that they almost won! Thank you to all the fans who showed up in Charlotte to cheer on the Jackets. Yall made the atmosphere there great despite the loss.
Tech Forever
December 3rd, 2012
12:17 am
WnE,
I no longer have an opinion on whether he should keep his job or not because I’m not sure making a coaching change for anyone would make that much of a difference. the current landscape of college football has passed Tech by completely IMHO.
WnE
December 3rd, 2012
12:22 am
re:
1 4 GT
December 2nd, 2012
11:09 pm
Good grief but I get sick from all of these “long time Tech fans = 30-40-50-60 year fans” and their whining and crying negative comments. Well, I was born a GT fan on Nov. 3, 1944 and I’ll by God die a Gt fan. The guys are my horse if they never win a race. I may get discouraged and disappointed and pout for a day or two after a loss, but next home game I’m there cheering them on. Either get on board or get lost. Grow a pair and be fans or shut the hell up!
__________________
You were one of the guys that thought CPJ would play for MNCs by his 5th yr. on campus and now you want us to support a crappy product that is also boring to watch.
When you were in Corporate America (assuming you might be ret’d.), would you have accepted such poor, mediocre results from a highly paid person (relatively speaking) that had to report to you?
All the GT guys that i have worked with in Corp. America are no-nonsense and very demanding, yet when it comes to our FB Program we (not me) accept the mediocrity that is CPJ and his 19 losses in the last 3 seasons.
To avg. 6 losses per season in the weak ACC, for a 3-yr. stretch is grounds for immediate dismissal!
Tech Forever
December 3rd, 2012
12:24 am
ChiefGT.
I think people are just tired of the “thin” far outweighing the “thick” the last 40+ years, and with each year it seems it gets harder and harder for a school like Tech with the approach it has chosen to compete in the realm of college football. I agree with you in that I don’t really understand why alums complain about it so much as they are one group I would think would completely understand why Tech has such a hard time in college football, but for the non-alum fans it is tough to watch the futility since our only connection with the school is athletics.
Erk Russell's Dog
December 3rd, 2012
12:31 am
Breaking News Jacket Fans
GA.Tech in Sun bowl playing the real USC ,imagine that if you can.So CPJ can schedule one more Fish Fry Pep Rally.However due to the slight turnout by Tech fans in Charlotte Saturday night the menu at the rally will have to be reduced. CPJ will have a sack of Filet-O Fish sandwiches but the supply is limited.So CPJ has enlisted the use of fish fry lottery. So all 25 tech fans who braved the trip to Charlotte ,bring your ticket stub ans you might win your own Filet -o-Fish sandwich. CPJ will still have the ACC Coastal Championship “Red Solo Cup’ available for the Tech faithful to drink their favorite beverage from. But remember it is BYOB no money left in budget for the usual case of Milwaukee’s Best Light.
Supersize that order, mutt
December 3rd, 2012
12:36 am
I’ve been a Tech fan for 60 years, and a season ticket holder for 45 years. Am I disappointed in the results of this season? Of course? But unlike all the others on here CLAIMING to have been a fan for 30, 40, 50 years, whatever, I STILL SUPPORT my team, and I have not given up on them or on Johnson, and I will not now either. I like his offense, although I do question some of his play-calling. Assuming he gets a DC who can get the defense to play every game the way they played in the second half last night, Tech will be fine. We will NEVER out-recruit the likes of UGA or most other schools in the southeast, but we never have either, and that has not always hurt us. Johnson can build an offense; I think he has proven that, whether some of you guys like that particular offense or not. The question yet to be answered is will he find a man who can do the same on defense that he has on offense. If anybody thinks he doesn’t care about defense and won’t go all out to find a man who can do that, then IMO there’s no help for you; you have made up your mind, and there is nothing that will change it. That being the case, go find somebody else to cheer for.
Supersize that order, mutt
December 3rd, 2012
12:38 am
@ Erk Russell’s Dogs…….I was in Charlotte last night, and from where I sat, there were more Tech fans there than there were FSU fans.
FORMATION 4 SUCCESS
December 3rd, 2012
12:40 am
JUST SAYING, AFTER ALL THE LOSSES THAT GT HAS HAD TO UGA, THERE HAS ONLY BEEN ONE NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP SINCE 1990 AND THAT TROPHY HAS GEORGIA TECH’S NAME ON IT. UGA, YOU STILL HAVE TO LOOK UP TO US BECAUSE WE STILL SIT ON TOP OF THAT MOUNTAIN. IF I COULD JUST GET THIS THROUGH THE HEADS OF MY BOYS ON THE FLATS WE CAN GET THIS THING TURNED AROUND. IN THE MEANTIME UGA FOLKS, MY DARLING DAUGHTER SAYS IT BEST. SSHHH!!!
Erk Russell's Dog
December 3rd, 2012
12:45 am
Supersize
So what you are saying is that no one was in attendance for the ACC championship except the 2500 kids from the Boys and Girls club of Charlotte and any Kroger shopper in he metro Charlotte area who found 4 tickets placed on their wind shields.Good luck in El Paso you can still get back to .500 with a victory.
Supersize that order, mutt
December 3rd, 2012
12:48 am
@ Erk Russell’s Dog…….Apparently you didn’t even bother to watch the game. Sure, it was unfortunately not a sell-out, but there were a LOT of Tech fans there. There was also a good representation of FSU fans at the game, but there were more Tech fans. I haven’t read any sales records, and I know that a lot of those ticket holders got their tickets dirt-cheap on StubHub, but so what? They were there supporting their respective teams, and it turned out to be a helluva good game.
Erk Russell's Dog
December 3rd, 2012
12:48 am
Supersize
I think Brian Van Gorder is available to be Tech’s D coordinator.Of course Auburn’s defense was almost as bad as Tech’s was this year.
Supersize that order, mutt
December 3rd, 2012
12:49 am
I am sure there are a lot of good DC’s out there. I hope Tech can get one.
Erk Russell's Dog
December 3rd, 2012
12:50 am
Sorry Supersize
I was in Statesboro celebrating the only college team in Georgia that actually won a game yesterday.
Go Eagles
Supersize that order, mutt
December 3rd, 2012
12:51 am
Believe it or not, I for one think we have some decent athletes on defense; they just haven’t been coached. For the most part, they have played better since Groh was fired than before, although that’s not saying much
Supersize that order, mutt
December 3rd, 2012
12:52 am
@ Erk…..I actually pull for the Eagles, and I’m glad they won. I’m also glad UGA lost, especially the way they did, because they probably should have won
1 4 GT
December 3rd, 2012
12:53 am
I can tolerate most any thing “Carnack the Magnificent” (WnE) says until he starts putting things in my mouth. I never said CPJ would have us playing for MNCs. I have said (I believe this is the fourth time) that all any fan of any sports team has the “right” to ask of or expect of his/her chosen team is be competitive and put themselves in a position to win & in a position to contend for titles of whatever type might be available to win. Would I like to see my team win everything out there? You bet your sweet butt. If my team or athlete is competitive, plays hard with all the energy he can bring forth and leaves all his effort on the field, I’ll support them. But sometimes, that doesn’t happen and I get down & discouraged and mope around about their shortcomings, but come the next event, I’m baaccckkkk. So “Carnack”, quit trying to put words in my mouth. I really would prefer that you not even address me anyway. BTW, as an aside, I can truly say I don’t boo them either, unless it’s a pro sport. My booing is more the “Aw, c’mon man!” type of thing.
GTville
December 3rd, 2012
12:54 am
Coach is right. You all expect a NC every year, but I have only witnessed 1 Orange Bowl in the 30 years I have been a fan…the coach was CPJ…CCG would have likely made the Orange Bowl that year too. CCG would have been there a few times had you not run him out of town for having a winning record every year. The number one problem with Tech football is the fans whine all the time. I remember many sub-500 teams and bowl-less years as a GT fan. If you can consistently compete for the ACC championship, then you will be in the running for a NC every 10 years or so. Curry to Ross was miserable for several years; Ross to Lewis sucked; Lewis to O’Leary had to be better and was pretty fun…O’Leary to Gailey was OK but a little boring….Gailey to CPJ….coaching changes can kill programs for several years.
Supersize that order, mutt
December 3rd, 2012
12:57 am
@ GTville….lest you have forgotten, Gailey had one great chance to make it to the Orange Bowl, and somehow managed to lose to Wake Forest (WAKE FOREST???? OMG) in the ACCCG, even though he had Calvin Johnson. Gailey was a total loss as a coach
1 4 GT
December 3rd, 2012
1:01 am
I remember that WF loss. Sickening!!! WFs best year in forever & at our expense.
1 4 GT
December 3rd, 2012
1:02 am
UGH! Disgusting! Send cold chills up & down my spine!
Supersize that order, mutt
December 3rd, 2012
1:04 am
@ 1 4 GT…….I was there for that game. It was far worse in person than it was on TV. It was totally disgusting !!!!
1 4 GT
December 3rd, 2012
1:07 am
My pillows are calling! G’nite all!
Supersize that order, mutt
December 3rd, 2012
1:10 am
@ 1 4 GT……It’s early yet. LOL
USC Fan321
December 3rd, 2012
1:46 am
USC fan here. I like coming to the local papers/sites of opposing teams and scouting fan knowledge. From what I’ve gathered, you GA tech fans are very knowledgeable and passionate. That being said, I really hope that somehow you guys manage to EMBARASS Southern Cal. USC will never be elite with Lane Kiffin at the helm and a blowout loss to a 6-7 team would force Pat Haden to consider axing that baffoon. Even though it isn’t likely, I’m pulling for you guys for the sake of USC’s future.
Buzz-Off
December 3rd, 2012
6:06 am
I hate GT, but they will easily beat USC……maybe 49-17. USC has a horrible defense against the rush and their once vaunted offense has been whittled down by injuries (including their Heisman candidate QB). Big name team who will not show up to play so GT has a cakewalk.
Stinger 1
December 3rd, 2012
6:15 am
Supersize: I like your post @12:36. I have been a GT “street fan” since they beat Baylor 17-14 on Pepper Rodgers GG in the Orange Bowl Jan 1, 1952. Although, I have never been a season ticket holder, I have remained loyal, like you, through the worst of times a.k.a. the Lewis and the first couple of the Curry years. As old as I am, there will be no changes in my loyalty. Just hope that Johnson does hire a good DC and will let Vad use more passing in the spread option.
Old Blind Dog
December 3rd, 2012
6:48 am
Not that this is an earned bowl game but this old Dawg fan I will pull for TEK in this one – I hate Lane Kiffin – go Tekies.
Second snarky bowl thought of the day | Get The Picture
December 3rd, 2012
6:51 am
[...] The next time somebody tells you that college football doesn’t have a sense of humor, remind them that somebody thought it was a good idea to let Monte Kiffin finish out his college career trying to figure out how to defend the triple-option. [...]
BigTimeTECHFan
December 3rd, 2012
7:00 am
I hope Tech keeps Kelly as DC.
He’s done a pretty good job, give him an off season to put a full system in place and he’ll be a good one. Also the players love playing for him.
Als the bowl will be a good time to work offense to fit Lee and Thomas’s skills. Go prep with Lee as starter, let Lee take the game. Then when Tech is up by 21 to 28 points Washington can close out his career.
BigTimeTECHFan
December 3rd, 2012
7:02 am
Old Blind Dog – We’ll put it to Kiffen for you, if we do your dawgs gotta take it easy on us next year.
I have a feeling this was the “year before” for UGA. They will be something else next year.
blackandwhitestripes
December 3rd, 2012
7:24 am
Roll Tide first! Second, I really like Georgia Tech but they should not be going to a bowl. But college football has become all about money. This will be a good match up. I believe Tech will win this game if the defense will play football like the second half of the FSU game.
Iluvnutella
December 3rd, 2012
7:31 am
I cannot believe that people are on this blog defending CPJ. What have the last three years taught you guys/gals? For monetary reasons, he will be our coach next year. After that, we will have a new AD and all bets are off. DRad was one helluva fund-raiser, as a HR hiring man, meh, not-so-much. We hired a coach that CANNOT/shall not/will not recruit ofr run defense. He hired a DC that UVA laffed off campus, and a BBall coach that is periennial .500. In fact Dayton called and thanked us for taking him. As the Joker said in the first Batman. “This town needs an enema.”