LIVE BLOG: Tech vs. USC
Some thoughts and notes. Game starts 2 p.m. ET on CBS.
1. I think Tech will enjoy considerable support from the Sun Bowl crowd, which is largely made up of locals. After the 16,000 tickets allocated to the participating schools, the other 34,000 are sold to the El Paso community. As you may have read, USC stirred up controversy by showing up late for a Sun Bowl dinner and with two tweets sent by players criticizing the city of El Paso, which I’m going to guess has not sat well with residents. Further, Tech’s coaches and players have done nothing but rave about how welcome they feel and are enjoying the experience (which I think is genuine).
2. Weather: It’s sunny and very windy. The forecast calls for winds 20-30 mph, and it certainly feels like it. The wind right now (12:30 ET) is blowing briskly to the south, I think. Left to right on the television, at any rate.
Watching warmups, David Scully and Chris Tanner had trouble hitting from 45 going into the wind. Scully, at least, has range probably 10 yards longer than that. He crushed one from 55 with the wind.
3. If Tech gives up 35 points, the team will have the highest points-per-game allowed average going back at least to 1948. The 1999 team, which went 8-4 in Joe Hamilton’s final season, gave up an average of 30.3 points. Tech’s average through the ACC Championship game is 29.9.
4. There are two current Jackets who share Tech bowl records – Tevin Washington (completion percentage, 11-15 against Utah, tied with Shawn Jones in the 1991 Citrus Bowl) and Quayshawn Nealy (longest interception return, 74 yards, against Utah, tied with W.P. McHugh in the 1947 Oil Bowl)
5. Tech will wear blue jerseys, gold helmets, white pants.
6. The line is down to seven or 7.5 points in favor of USC. It had opened around 10. I’d guess Matt Barkley’s being ruled out played a big part in the drop.
7. Interesting – at 7-5, USC is still No. 20 in Sagarin ratings, presumably because their strength of schedule is ranked 13th. Tech is 63rd. Strength of schedule is 55th.
8. Tech marching band is here. Hopefully the altitude won’t affect the brass section.
Thanks for reading. Enjoy the game.
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892 comments Add your comment
Atlanta Mom
December 31st, 2012
5:40 pm
Thanks Dawg fans for your support today. I’ll be here tomorrow cheering for you.
goFalcons
December 31st, 2012
5:41 pm
Kiffin was scared of the SEC and look at him now,,,,,,,,,getting a beat down by Tech, this is great!!!!!
goFalcons
December 31st, 2012
5:43 pm
May not be the season you wanted Tech fans but a great win against a great team! Great job
Jacket Detective
December 31st, 2012
5:43 pm
Happy New Year to u Mr Phoenix.
5150 UOAD
December 31st, 2012
5:43 pm
WOW……….the B1G refs are a joke.
ARdawg
December 31st, 2012
5:43 pm
Jacket Detective
So true. I actually like football discourse with most of you sane Tech fans. There’s plenty of jacklegs in both camps though that make it difficult. Good to see you guys with a convincing bowl win
DawgNole
December 31st, 2012
5:43 pm
That’s a reach. These damn refs are still trying to make up for that missed FG call. Inexcusable.
ANOTHER bat-down by Tech, though. Good job.
Ted
December 31st, 2012
5:44 pm
Worthless officiating crew.
christophorm
December 31st, 2012
5:44 pm
opps looks like they have one UGA player on their team.
CT_Jacket
December 31st, 2012
5:44 pm
How many times are Tech players going to try to blow this with stupid personal fouls!!!
Iluvnutella
December 31st, 2012
5:44 pm
TYVM Baddawg…..good luck to tomorrow, make the South proud…..crush the Huskers!
catlady
December 31st, 2012
5:44 pm
I am glad that Tech is winning. It is remarkably funny that Lame Kippin and his team think they should be playing for the NC and yet they can’t beat Tech. Lame is among the lowest forms of pond scum and tastelessness–the no show on the Wednesday night sponsors’ dinner shows his level of “class.”
GT fan
December 31st, 2012
5:44 pm
Big 10 ref’s suck big time.
Ol'JacketFan
December 31st, 2012
5:44 pm
Have the little 10 offcials been this crappy all day????????????
son's who?
December 31st, 2012
5:44 pm
Now Tech is getting stupid.
GT fan
December 31st, 2012
5:45 pm
Players need to cool it
1990_Champs_GT
December 31st, 2012
5:45 pm
CT_Jacket, I’m speaking of what the average fan is happy with.
It’s embarrassing that a team that has such a great football history has fans who will accept this. It’s time to take back the state and dominate the ACC. Where’s the swagger? Where’s the pride?
He wasn’t my favorite either, but since George O’Leary, it’s all been down hill.
GTAE70
December 31st, 2012
5:45 pm
Barnes was pushed by the USC player
goFalcons
December 31st, 2012
5:46 pm
Tech are the bully!!!!!! I love it but the refs are going crazy
Jacket Detective
December 31st, 2012
5:46 pm
How many dumb penalties are we going to get today?
5150 UOAD
December 31st, 2012
5:46 pm
The B1G refs better not call a SEC game if you are going to flag Crap Talking. You will never get your flag in you pocket if you flag crap talking.
Refs give it up…………..Stop trying to change the GAME. I think the refs have bets on the game.
ibidGT
December 31st, 2012
5:46 pm
These refs are a bigger joke than Kiffin.
GTJohn2
December 31st, 2012
5:46 pm
PenaltyGT….unfootball like conduct GT. Add, repeat, add, add, add…
Iluvnutella
December 31st, 2012
5:46 pm
AMEN 1990……no more hiding behind academics…..(see ND, Stanford)
catlady
December 31st, 2012
5:47 pm
Ya gotta wonder what ELSE the refs will do to help USC.
Ol'JacketFan
December 31st, 2012
5:47 pm
Int!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Iluvnutella
December 31st, 2012
5:48 pm
WOOT WOOt (mean it)
Jacket Detective
December 31st, 2012
5:48 pm
I’m excited about our basketball program and though I am happy to win, I can’t get excited about all the stupid penalties.
son's who?
December 31st, 2012
5:48 pm
U S(uck), SEEEEE?
Ted
December 31st, 2012
5:48 pm
Can’t believe there was no penalty to offset the int.
GTJohn2
December 31st, 2012
5:48 pm
YES! I’m looking for a flag! I guess there’s nothing to make up.
CT_Jacket
December 31st, 2012
5:48 pm
Good D to end the game!!! Nice pick.
GT fan
December 31st, 2012
5:48 pm
Kelly great job!!!!
WillGT
December 31st, 2012
5:49 pm
Where was this D against Georgia and FSU????
Techster
December 31st, 2012
5:49 pm
This will be a great win! Especially, with the whipping of a cheating, lying, no- account coach like Lane Kiffin. Looks like the Refs were trying to help USC save face.
Iluvnutella
December 31st, 2012
5:49 pm
I like our D under this young man…..NOW GO GET SOME F’IN PLAYERS!
GTJohn2
December 31st, 2012
5:49 pm
GO JACKETS!!!!
Ted
December 31st, 2012
5:49 pm
Most of the penalties would not have been called by competent crews. A few, but not many.
ibidGT
December 31st, 2012
5:49 pm
Hell of a game DEFENSE!!!!
Great game!
son's who?
December 31st, 2012
5:49 pm
Not my team, but I’m happy for the kids.
Ol'JacketFan
December 31st, 2012
5:49 pm
Take that ball with you Tein, you and team earned it!
01HAWK
December 31st, 2012
5:50 pm
Great job TECH. Very proud of you. !!!!!!!!!!!
DawgNole
December 31st, 2012
5:50 pm
Way to close it out, Tech. Finally got a grin outta ol’ Johnson.
45 ACP
December 31st, 2012
5:50 pm
Congratulations Georgia Tech!
Ol'JacketFan
December 31st, 2012
5:50 pm
er Tevin!!!!
Hairy Dawg
December 31st, 2012
5:50 pm
Congrats to Tech. Anyone who beats up on Kiffin is okay with me. Even Tech. At least for today.
son's who?
December 31st, 2012
5:51 pm
“WillGT
December 31st, 2012
5:49 pm
Where was this D against Georgia and FSU????”
Let’s not get silly.
Ol'JacketFan
December 31st, 2012
5:51 pm
My goodness did I see a smile out of CPJ????? LOL!!!!!!!!!!
5150 UOAD
December 31st, 2012
5:51 pm
Iluvnutella
December 31st, 2012
5:46 pm
AMEN 1990……no more hiding behind academics…..(see ND, Stanford)
==============================
those schools offer STUPID easy majors for football players.
============================================================
Kiss my White & Gold butt you self loathing tech fans…………..Go cheer for a win at all cost SEC team and stop faking like you are a TECH FAN.
hey dWag fans sniff my butt…..It smells like a BOWL VICTORY……..
Shane
December 31st, 2012
5:51 pm
From a Dawg fan…Way to go Tech! I hope Kiffen is fired and never coaches again.