For Jackets, Sun Bowl win means plenty
EL PASO, Texas – It was a non-New Year’s Day bowl game between teams with disappointing seasons. But for Georgia Tech, it ended up being so much more than that.
Most significantly, the Yellow Jackets’ 21-7 win over USC on Monday brought an end to their seven-game bowl losing streak, the nation’s second-longest active streak. It gave coach Paul Johnson his first bowl win at Tech. It probably ranks as Tech’s second biggest non-conference win in Johnson’s tenure, following the 2008 victory over Georgia.
Given the weight lifted from Tech’s shoulders, said offensive tackle Will Jackson, “It feels like we just won the national championship.”
The highlights were many. Quarterback Tevin Washington, maligned as unable to deliver in the clutch, came through with a touchdown drive that raised Tech’s advantage to two touchdowns early in the fourth quarter and then led two more that produced no points but swallowed up eight minutes of the fourth quarter.
Said Washington, “It feels real good, because we’ve been preaching all bowl practice, just finish.”
Washington also entered the Tech record books with a third-quarter touchdown that made him the single-season leader for touchdowns (20), rushing touchdowns (20) and points scored (120), breaking Robert Lavette’s records in each category with 19, 19 and 114, respectively.
The team, which had given up fourth-quarter leads to lose to Virginia Tech and Miami in overtime, not to mention last year against Utah here, held firm.
Said defensive end Izaan Cross, “At halftime, we had a little talk. Can’t let up. We’ve been in this situation numerous times where it’s been one or two plays that’s messed up the game for us when we played so well but we didn’t come out with the victory.”
For cornerback Louis Young, who missed the Sun Bowl last year with an NCAA suspension and struggled through an injury-filled season, the game was rife with personal meaning.
“To come out here and get this win, words can’t explain it really,” he said.
The senior class, like Johnson, won its first bowl game after a run in which it won an ACC title and played for another, but hadn’t won in a bowl. After three bowl losses, Cross, a team captain, stood on an on-field stage to receive the Sun Bowl trophy.
Said Cross, “For me to experience that at the Sun Bowl, that was awesome.”
A season that has had plenty of bumps — a fired defensive coordinator, a fourth consecutive loss to Georgia, an embarrassing 21-point home loss to Middle Tennessee State, derision from fans and media for going to a bowl game with a losing record — ended with a trophy and a win over one of the biggest names in college football.
Ken Sugiura, Georgia Tech blog
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140 comments Add your comment
chas_jacket
January 1st, 2013
8:41 am
Also agree with tokyo jacket. The pics of Tevin smiling on the sideline while Vad was moving the offense said volumes about his character. Great win to build on next year.
The Good Word
January 1st, 2013
8:41 am
I gotta chime in with my support – all season long and in the stands – for TW. Heart and hard work can even the competition on the field and off.
I really hope the underclassmen – particularly Lee and Thomas emulate Washington’s respect for the game, opponents, fans, and the institution. His honor and integrity will take him far in life.
Hey, did you guys see...
January 1st, 2013
9:38 am
…how great Vad played? Time after time he led the team and did just great – there at the end of the game he did —what, that was not Vad? Wasn’t it said by wow and GTJoe (one and the same person, by the way) that Tech could not win without Vad? And, you mean that Tevin played most of the entire game, and Tech still won? Well, as Gomer Apyle would say, GOOOLLLEEE….or, as Goober would say, Shazaam…
Techboy23
January 1st, 2013
9:38 am
Thank You, Tevin Washington for your class, character and dedication!
Congratulations and Best Wishes for your Future!
mark
January 1st, 2013
9:40 am
Great win for the Jacktets. The SC qb couldnt hit a bull in the butt with a bass fiddle. It speaks well for Tech that the team showed some genuine enthusiasm and appreciation for the Sun Bowl folks.I think USC showed a total lack of class and it will hurt them in the future. HOWWWW did the ref miss the field goal call? Congratulations to Tech. Go Dawgs.
GTAE70
January 1st, 2013
9:53 am
@Ken, I agree with Tokyo Jacket. Tevin is a guy I would hire in a minute. He knows how to overcomce adversity and has the wherewithall to stick it out. A real trooper. We GT fans owe him a lot of thanks.
GT FAN ATL
January 1st, 2013
9:56 am
FEAR THE BEES……GO GT
Crazy Robert
January 1st, 2013
9:57 am
Congratulations to Tevin as well as the rest of the team. Great win! The D sure put it together, hope they carry that with a lot of hard work into next, err, I mean this year’s season!
What about those officials. If they are government employees they will get big pay raises and promotions because they were terrible.
fatboyslim
January 1st, 2013
10:05 am
GT rules!!! We were one game away from winning the ACC and then go and kick USC’s tail, the former #1 team! CPJ had these boys ready and he should def get an extension out of this. Vad Lee is the future. We will average over 400 yds of TO next year!!!!
Jacket Detective
January 1st, 2013
10:12 am
I’ve defended Tevin Washington all year.
If I had to take another name it would be Jacket QB defender as I don’t like all the folks who have knocked Reggie Ball either.
Pine and a few others nailed it and a lot of quiet Tevin fans have finally shown up.
If u r going to knock Tevin, then I’m going to, as I have many times already, put everyone else under the microscope.
Without quality teammates, Nesbitt could not beat freakin Kansas, a team that lost 9 games that year.
Explain that one haters.
Techboy23
January 1st, 2013
10:13 am
Loved the Defensive effort!
This is the way I thought the 3-4 Defense is supposed to work. Rotating the OLBs and flexing them up to the line; also the Tampa two with deep safeties kept the ball in front of us.
I like it alot!
Jacket Detective
January 1st, 2013
10:15 am
And many thanks Tevin for all your contributions to Georgia Tech football.
I wish you had played on teams with – at minimum – a decent defense and special teams.
Anyone with a clue knows u didn’t have guys like Derrick Morgan to make game-saving sacks and turn losses into wins.
GT TN
January 1st, 2013
10:16 am
Where is GT John this morning..he is the first to bash and the first to leave..don’t blame him for not showing up after the made the comment that 4 Vad TO’s were better than 2 TW TO’s..I think it ended up 2 TO’s to 0 TO’s..I can’t wait to see Vad or Thomas next year..I did enjoy seeing TW finish his career with a win..he has given alot of time to GT and people like GT John don’t give him the credit he deserves..it is like Les Miles going off on the reporter before senior day defending his player when the reporter questioned a guys years at LSU..it is easy to bash a guy behind your computer screen when you watch for 3 1/2 on a Saturday afternoon…you go home from work and watch tv instead of gong to class, then to film/practice/lifting and then go home to study game plan..I’m tired of listening about how great Vad is and how bad TW is..Vad can learn alot from TW..watch Vad run a 20 yard play and get up and say” look at me”..watch TW on a 20 yard play and get up and hand the ball to the offical..we saw yesterday what CPJ has been seeing in practice all year..Vad is going to be awesome but he wasn’t ready to lead the team for a full game
HighTech
January 1st, 2013
10:24 am
Tokyo jacket
January 1st, 2013
7:30 am
@ Ken, if you ever get the chance, please pass on some thanks to Tevin Washington. The young man has worked extremely hard during his career at Tech. He has represented the program with class and dignity both on and off the field. Tevin has maintained the integrity of what it means to be a Tech graduate and I am happy for that. Best wishes to Mr. Washington in his next set of endeavors.
Congrats to all the seniors for starting a new bowl streak and ALL graduating. For the first time since Bush’s first term, Tech goes into the sunset with a win. I’m a happy camper.
————————————————–
+1000
And thank you, Ken, for your covering the Yellow Jackets this season. I hope you continue to cover them through 2013 and beyond. You’re the best. Happy New Year!
Jacket Dad
January 1st, 2013
10:26 am
It’s great to actually feel good after a Tech bowl game! Congrats to the guys and especially the seniors for stepping up and not giving up. This was a very tough year, but I think we have momentum going into the 2013 season. To Tevin, thanks for your inspired play. To Vad, build on this and persevere – you have great potential but there is still a ways to go.
Congrats Jackets!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
DAMN GOOD JACKETS
January 1st, 2013
10:27 am
here are post game comments off youtube:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1uy1GNITkVM
jeffjacket
January 1st, 2013
10:30 am
You guys have heard from me all year:
1- CPJ is the real deal ! Great call to let Tevin calm the waters in the 4th qtr.
2- Keep your DC , even with injuries he inspired his players to greatness!
3- Vad now has a lot of “real” experience to put to use in the next 3 years!
4- TO HELL WITH GA! GO HUSKERS! GO JACKETS!!!!
UNDERSTAND THIS ALL YOU HATERS OF CPJ , WHEN THE GOING GETS TOUGH THE TOUGH GET GOING, YOU WOULD BE HARD PRESSED TO FIND A DIV . 1 TEAM WITH MORE SET BACKS TO OVERCOME THIS YEAR THAN GT , AND THANKS TO A TRUE LEADER (CPJ) WE DID!!!!!
GTJohn2
January 1st, 2013
10:32 am
Hey GT TN, I never bashed TW. I preferred Vad to stay in the game. Tevin did a great job and I’m sure he’ll do great in the future. There were two GTJohns yesterday. I changed my handle and he changed his. I guess that’s the person you are talking about. I don’t trash players and I never typed anything about turnovers.
I did question the referees vision. Thanks
Flak Jacket
January 1st, 2013
10:40 am
I have ripped the defense and special teams all year, but they played good ball these last two games.Much improved.Got to tip your hat to the way this football team finished.I am not a big CPJ fan but he deserves credit for not letting this team quit.IT was the exact opposite of what i thought would happen.GT needs to dump those UGLY uniforms for sure, they look awful.Go Jackets.
GT TN
January 1st, 2013
10:42 am
@GTJohn2..I saw when you signed on and changed your name..the GT John that has been on the GT blogs all year has continued to bash TW and CPJ and praises Vad like no other..he made the comment about the turnovers at half time..all the regular bloogers on here know exactly who he is..sorry you thought I was talking about you
5150 UOAD
January 1st, 2013
11:03 am
USC’s post game comments:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BKxTbtG9QRM
that was great! How many times did Kiffin say the Cold weather and Wind were factors in the USC loss?
5150 UOAD
January 1st, 2013
11:07 am
If you don’t like TEVIN WASHNGTON then you have a real problem with Quality Student Athletes and Classy TECH MEN.
5150 UOAD
January 1st, 2013
11:09 am
Are any of you TECH fan cheering for UGa today? Sorry I still can’t do it.
Go Nebraska!!!!!
Send the UGa Seniors and leaving Juniors out with a loss………
5150 UOAD
January 1st, 2013
11:13 am
Chick-fil-A did it again.
They will probably have one of(if not) the BEST Bowl Games of the Year.
The Duke v Cincy game was great for the scoring in the last 55 seconds but the Chick-fil-A was great and intense fro start to finish. There was no lull in the game at all.
Flak Jacket
January 1st, 2013
11:15 am
GO CORNHUSKERS
Flak Jacket
January 1st, 2013
11:25 am
Way to go Clemson,sick of espn kissing the SCOOLS EAZY KONFRANSE azz!
Skull Murphy
January 1st, 2013
11:29 am
Thank goodness that PJ had Tevin available. We learned that Lee has a lot to learn. If it wasn’t for Tevin, PJ would have been stuck with the QB talent that Kiffin was stuck with.
Skull Murphy
January 1st, 2013
11:31 am
Great job Clemson Tigers. Great to see an ACC team whip a top SEC squad.
casual observer
January 1st, 2013
11:42 am
I have thought all along that CPJ rewards HARD WORK , LOYALTY, TEAMWORK, SHOWING CLASS IN DIFFICULT SITUATIONS, ETC., all of which TW did , and more. The kid was not heavily recruited, he came in and worked his tail off. He made the most of what he was given and he ALWAYS put the TEAM first. I salute the young man ! In college ball , this is really what it should all be about.
gt alum 83
January 1st, 2013
12:00 pm
Horrible officiating. Horrible. Some really BS calls and I’ve never seen a call blown like the “field goal.” Who were these guys? Replacement umps?
I agree with previous posters: Tevin may never be a star QB in the NFL but he played with heart. CPJ calls the plays, not the QB. CPJ put Tevin in for those downs because, simply, he was most confident that he’d get the ball into the end zone. Period. I’ve never been the biggest Tevin fan but to even imply that he’s selfish is completely off-base. He’s a class act and I wish him the best going forward in his young life.
You have to give Kelly strong consideration for the DC position. Given the s**tstorm he inherited and to turn the defense into what I saw yesterday speaks volumes about him.
Lastly, a tip of the cap to you Ken. Good reporting on Tech this year. Please keep up the good work and let’s have a happy 2013.
Holy Guacamole
January 1st, 2013
12:15 pm
Ok, let’s analyze this. Notre Dame plays USC and beat them 22-13. Georgia Tech plays USC the very next game and beats them 21-7. So does this mean that Tech is as good as Notre Dame or that Notre Dame is as bad as Tech? Bama has got to be licking their chops.
Jacket Detective
January 1st, 2013
12:17 pm
Casual observer nailed it too.
I had an invite for dinner from a married couple that I nearly lost when, on the phone, I started cussing after a dumb penalty. Can’t do that next year if we want to win the close ones.
I’m not going to aggravate Dawg fans today when something goes wrong and I suggest Tech fans don’t either.
Later last night, I joined a large family of partying Dawg fans next door and glad they invited me in.
Some of the family made up a band and it was a fun night, like being on the stage of a performance.
I joked security had gotten too drunk to throw me out.
Flamboyant Sun Bowl
January 1st, 2013
12:24 pm
Happy Victorious New Year
60yearGTfan
January 1st, 2013
12:34 pm
If you met Tevin in person like I did at an Alexander-Tharpe Fund dinner for GT supporters, you would even be more impressed with him. He’s really a class act, and his record as a winning QB would have been much better if we had had a better defense and special teams play. Like someone said, PJ called those QB keepers near the goal line. A “selfish player” Tevin IS NOT. I don’t know what Tevin’s parents are like, but they must be proud of how he handles himself in tough, adverse situations; especially from some of the unjust criticism on this board at times.
ATLien
January 1st, 2013
12:40 pm
Yea, I’m sure all those way over-rated USC kids who got their heads filled with talk of being the best in the country were ohh so motivated to play in this bowl game against a team with a sub .500 record that had to get the rules bent just to be there. Beyond that, their QB and their best WR didn’t play. If there ever was a meaningless win, it’s this one. Best part about is that Tech people will once again bow down to the alter of their moron coach thinking he’s the savior. That’s what this win means in reality…a few more years of the rest of us getting to laugh at CPJ and the 20’s era HS offense.
Enochs
January 1st, 2013
12:45 pm
Finally, a bowl win, over an arrogant USC team & coach…Not one good word on our team from announcers & press, nor any break from refs–ever seen a missed FG called good? Guess they left
their glasses at home-also don’t forget the fumble that was an incomplete pass-it would not have been if the receiver had gone out of bounds! Great defense & offense as well-how about the punt return ( Lou
Holtz says that was because kick was into the wind-what BS; he is over the hill. We all should be
so proud of our team after the year they played through!
GT TN
January 1st, 2013
12:54 pm
@ATLien..everything you said goes out the door..you can’t get your facts straight..USA best WR did play..he played the entire game..easy to say that USC didn’t want to be there when they got beat..if they would have won then you would be bashing GT as horrible..they had the same team that played ND and GT beat them worse than ND did..USC had 281 yards against what many say is the best defense in the country..GT held them to 205 yards..if you are going to type something you need to check your facts
5150 UOAD
January 1st, 2013
1:04 pm
Thank God TECH decided to wear the GOLD Helmets. I HATE the Bee Hive White helmets.
BraveJacket
January 1st, 2013
1:21 pm
Great article, Ken Sugiura. As a gt fan as down as I could be after the MTS debacle, it was great to see the season end on this high note, and such a positive for the D.
...Take The Wheel
January 1st, 2013
1:58 pm
I’ve defended Tevin all season. It’s good to see the team get this W with him. He’s endured more pressure than most of us know. As many have stated today, he’s persevered with the class and fortitude you expect of a tech grad. In all the adversity of this season he never abandoned his role. He showed up and never complained, never reacted to booing,obnoxious fans, and never lost site of the goal. He willingly accepted fault that was not his alone – and rarely received recognition for any success. He didn’t get the W every time but neither did Nesbitt and neither will Vad or JUSTIN. I hope the younger players have noticed his character and take that into next season – along with a lot of hard work.
Congratulations team! You’ve had this level of play in you all season
Ps – its good to see more Tech fans recognizing his contributions.
...Take The Wheel
January 1st, 2013
2:05 pm
Count on GtJoe to be posting criticism under multiple aliases in 5,4,3,2,1
GT Fan
January 1st, 2013
2:14 pm
January 1st, a new year is upon us. I hope all GT fans are feeling great after yesterday’s win!
Now just imagine the sickening feeling in the guts of Headley Lamar, Rick James, WnE, JB, Jon Koncack, et al GT haters.
UGA = Yawn
January 1st, 2013
3:21 pm
Hey 60yearoldGTfan, if you look closely, Tevin actually fumbled the ball away on the short touchdown run. I am mixed. He is a good guy but he fumbles or throws INT’s at the most inopportune times. I’m a Vad fan sorry.
chas_jacket
January 1st, 2013
3:33 pm
…..Take The Wheel
Like most GT fans I have also supported Tevin’s efforts throughout the year. Had thought GT Joe was a troll, but tend to think he is just a low/no class Tech fan – they do exist unfortunately. You can bash CPJ if you want but the trash talk against Tevin was inexcusable. Had Kelly been DC to start the year, we would be playing in the Orange bowl.
ibidGT
January 1st, 2013
3:39 pm
Glad Tevin finished out the game. Before half time I called a number of people out on the live blog for bashing Tevin so bad yet with two turnovers they saw Vad Lee as a God compared to Tevin. Made no sense. Vad Lee was clearly rattled after those two turnovers and Tevin played well from that point on. As Ken pointed out even if Tevin didn’t lead most drives for TDs he produced long drives that ate up a huge amount of time.
Tevin, by far the better QB yesterday. But apparently to some a 2 turnover Lee is still preferred over a no turnover Tevin.
@ UGA = Yawn
He didn’t fumble it, he already crossed the white plane with the ball and was miles into the endzone before the ball came loose after the play was dead. That is no fumble.
chas_jacket
January 1st, 2013
4:23 pm
Not sure if Kelly gets the DC job, but two things I really liked on the defense – they were in the right position to make the play and they tackled well. That will go a long way toward a solid defense effort. I guess one big question is if Attachou will be back next year – if so I think we will see significant improvement
Danny
January 1st, 2013
5:19 pm
Too bad about the post-game profanity. It was an embarrassment but so was the guy with the baseball cap on sideways. Seriously, do you guys want everyone to look at you as thugs?
Supersize that order, mutt
January 1st, 2013
5:21 pm
If you want to see what the LA Times thinks about Lame Kiffin, check out the following link, shown to me this morning in El Paso by one of the CBS cameramen yesterday……
http://soc.li/uhH8m6
Supersize that order, mutt
January 1st, 2013
5:23 pm
@ Danny….Sweeting was excited, and he knew as soon as he said it that it was mistake. He also said “yes, sir” to the woman interviewing him. I guess you are perfect and never get caught up in the moment and say the wrong thing, huh?
Wrecked again
January 1st, 2013
5:25 pm
The best player on the GT defense was the freshman QB for USC. If Barkley plays GT loses by 2-3 TDS. .