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
Welcome to the Truth
December 31st, 2012
4:34 pm
Terrible blocking…
DOC 51
December 31st, 2012
4:34 pm
This BIG-10 referee crew is helping S.CAL as much as it can.GT needs to start a bowl winning streak.
Former Georgian
December 31st, 2012
4:35 pm
I want Tech to blow this game wide open in the second half. I don’t like Paul Johnson but I despise Kiffen and my cats consider his nickname an insult to their species!
Tech, aren’t you glad you didn’t have to play Vandy?
goFalcons
December 31st, 2012
4:35 pm
Wow fans of Tech are about as crazy as my Dawg fans……..Yall really want to fire a coach who has done nothing but win? I guess all fans are the same, they don’t know what they got until it is gone
5150 UOAD
December 31st, 2012
4:35 pm
GT Gal…………….go BAKE some cookie and maybe read the RULES of the game. You can’t THROW a pass with your ELBOW.
Dog kicker
December 31st, 2012
4:35 pm
Time 4 the jackets to force a turnover
GT fan
December 31st, 2012
4:35 pm
Lets win today and talk coaches tomorrow
Flowery Branch Yellow Jacket
December 31st, 2012
4:37 pm
I love the way our defense has played today, and the special teams are looking pretty good too (for the most part). The offense has had some moments, but overall the option hasn’t been terribly effective against the speed of the Trojan defense. Still, if the USC QB continues to bounce his forward passes toward his receivers, we’ve got a VERY GOOD chance of winning this game!
Atlanta Mom
December 31st, 2012
4:38 pm
Check out that Tech Defense!
Erk Russell's Dog
December 31st, 2012
4:38 pm
Looks like 5150 is continuing the GOP’s war on women, with his attack on GT Gal.
Erk Russell's Dog
December 31st, 2012
4:38 pm
Looks like 5150 is continuing the GOP’s war on women, with his attack on GT Gal.
GT Gal
December 31st, 2012
4:39 pm
@5150 UOAD. What page in he rule book says a pass has to be from the hand?
5150 UOAD
December 31st, 2012
4:39 pm
Lane Kiffin is in Sun Glasses? There is no sun why the shades? Kiffin is trying to hide from Pat Hayden………..Lane you need to write a check for $500K that USC loaned you fro that house down payment. You will be job hunting after this game. LOL maybe your wife can be a Real Housewife of the Unemployed in the OC.
ARdawg
December 31st, 2012
4:39 pm
“You are an IDIOT or BLIND if you haven’t seen some terrible calls and ALL have been against TECH.”
What a tool. You haven’t even lost the game yet and already crying about the officiating?
Jacket Detective
December 31st, 2012
4:40 pm
Tech’s multi-millionaires like to put their names on a building they make a large contribution to.
McCammish Pavilion is a recent example.
I do not think they will pay to get rid of Paul Johnson.
So a bowl loss will not get him fired.
Even when we get a good coach like Ross (but not great), he dumps us the first chance he gets.
Maybe we should just make CPJ earn his pay.
No guarantee a new AD will do any better.
Anyway if we have both Hewitt and Johnson to pay off, u can celebrate because I’ll be done with being a season ticket holder.
Since Dodd, we have not had many good hires.
son's who?
December 31st, 2012
4:40 pm
I’m wondering how bad USC’s third string QB must be. Tech’s D has played well and disciplined.
Bill
December 31st, 2012
4:40 pm
The CBS announcers can’t believe how many breaks the refs are giving the Trojans.
JDawg
December 31st, 2012
4:40 pm
I don’t care if you geeks win or not, but the refs are obviously sticking it to you. You better not put the game in their hands down the stretch.
goFalcons
December 31st, 2012
4:40 pm
good run
5150 UOAD
December 31st, 2012
4:41 pm
GT GAL look up the definition of a forward pass. Do you think you can PASS with your Knee too?
Jacket Detective
December 31st, 2012
4:41 pm
The messiah hasn’t looked like the messiah yet.
Maybe next year.
DawgNole
December 31st, 2012
4:42 pm
1990_Champs_GT
December 31st, 2012
4:31 pm
A win today can’t be viewed as an improvement. I’m sorry, but it’s true.
____________________
Can’t agree with that after the bowl performances of recent years. Just hoping they can hang on to this one–still a long way to go.
Exterminator
December 31st, 2012
4:42 pm
If only 7 pt lead at end of qtr USC will win.
5150 UOAD
December 31st, 2012
4:42 pm
O is back but he STOPPED and looked like the Falcons Turner.
DawgNole
December 31st, 2012
4:44 pm
Ol’ CPJ never looks happy, does he?
OwlMan
December 31st, 2012
4:44 pm
Tech, second half, up 14-7 early, better type fast, USC may be on Tech’s goal before I finish this line. Paul Johnson is improvising ways to lose, to run his “great” bowl record to 0-5 at Tech. Course, he’s a self-described genius and its never his fault they have a losing season or improve to 0-5 in his illustrious bowl career at Tech. Get the search committee ready before he’s afforded the opportunity to run it to 0-6 next year. He can go losing seasons back to back and be back in El Paso in 2013.
Rodster
December 31st, 2012
4:44 pm
Good job by GT. They are playing well enough to win this game. They look like the more motivated team.
goFalcons
December 31st, 2012
4:44 pm
Paul Johnson tells 680 the fan to kiss his azz!!!!! I love Paul Johnson and all he does is win and that is more then I can say about Tech since GOL left to go to ND before that back fired. Tech has a great coach
Paulie Nads
December 31st, 2012
4:44 pm
Pathetic offense Paul!!!
Jacket Detective
December 31st, 2012
4:46 pm
A win today will be a huge improvement.
It gets the monkey off the Johnson’s back for starters.
It provides some momentum for next year.
Mike Waters
December 31st, 2012
4:46 pm
USC is done for a long time, no future at SC next year or as long as baby face kiffin is trying to coach …..
headley lamar
December 31st, 2012
4:46 pm
This is really really bad football.
Hard to watch.
Gov
December 31st, 2012
4:48 pm
Enter your comments here
Gov
December 31st, 2012
4:48 pm
Is the meeting adjourned?
5150 UOAD
December 31st, 2012
4:48 pm
Kick Catch interference………..It didn’t hit the tech guy
DawgNole
December 31st, 2012
4:49 pm
ANOTHER fluke! Time to bow up, D.
headley lamar
December 31st, 2012
4:49 pm
I love Paul Johnson and all he does is win
What has he ever won ?
His record against good competition is terrible. The one ACC title was forfeited due to cheating.
Beating Maryland and ACC nobody’s dosnt impress.
5150 UOAD
December 31st, 2012
4:49 pm
REVIEW it NEVER Touched the TECH player…………USC touched the ball firstt
5150 UOAD
December 31st, 2012
4:50 pm
I don’t think that hit the TecH player……………BS
Iluvnutella
December 31st, 2012
4:50 pm
Love u guys who think it gets ANY better under this D*I*PC*H*I*T of a coach. This team needs an ENEMA!
Stinger1
December 31st, 2012
4:51 pm
IF we lose , BLAME bad officatiing.
GT fan
December 31st, 2012
4:51 pm
If the ball hit the player, why didn’t the player that got hit go after the ball?
1990_Champs_GT
December 31st, 2012
4:51 pm
FSU was overrated and over looking us. Miami buying ladies of the night for recruits got us into the game to begin with.
Possibly winning against that deer in the headlights QB for USC isn’t much of an accomplishment. Would make CPJ 1-3 in bowls. An empty cupboard as far as recruiting goes.
Winning the Toilet Bowl in lovely El Paso, Texas today fix:
20-17 loss to VT
42-36 loss to Miami
49-28 loss to Mid Tennessee
47-31 loss to Clemson
41-17 loss to BYU
42-10 loss to UGA
21-15 loss to FSU in ACC Championship*
Guess what a good start to fix it is, UOAD?
FIRE PAUL JOHNSON!
ARdawg
December 31st, 2012
4:51 pm
Enter your comments here
Iluvnutella
December 31st, 2012
4:52 pm
I wanna be the first to congradualte Fatby Fish-fry on the perpetuation of the nations 2nd longest bowl losing streak…We’re gonna be number one REAL SOON!
5150 UOAD
December 31st, 2012
4:52 pm
DAMN TECH is Hitting on D.
Paulie Nads
December 31st, 2012
4:52 pm
GT keeps stepping all over their Johnson!!!
For the love of god...
December 31st, 2012
4:52 pm
Do not put yet another game in the hands of Washington.
headley lamar
December 31st, 2012
4:53 pm
I can understand the Tech excitement however.
Tech doesnt win bowl games very often.
5150 UOAD
December 31st, 2012
4:53 pm
HOW about that FORWARD PASS?