Jackets have opportunity to seize spotlight from Bulldogs
Tech's Sean Bedford (79) and Nick Claytor (75) lead a celebration in Starkville. (AP photo)
Because of its sheer size, alumni base, tradition, conference and the fact that the charm of the corner of North and Techwood falls a little short relative to a football Saturday in Athens, Georgia is a bigger story than Georgia Tech.
The screams are louder, win or lose, at Georgia. We’ll save the debate on lost perspective for another day.
But the Jackets have a rare opportunity right now. The Bulldogs have proven for five weeks that they’re an average team, and please let’s not hear any more whines about how some hyperventilating referee made an errant celebration call, or LSU is overrated, or, egad, Georgia only lost Saturday because of one play.
Know what? Don’t get shut out for three quarters. Make a tackle when it matters. Then we can talk about one play.
This much is certain: It’s October. The window is open on North Avenue.
The look on Joe Cox's face Saturday tells the Georgia story: another loss and a possible long season ahead.
Georgia is 3-2. Its three victories were more like survivals against three unranked teams (South Carolina, Arkansas, Arizona State). Can we really say that there’s a gimme left on the schedule, save Tennessee Tech? (By the way, Tennessee Tech put up 31 points against mighty Austin Peay Saturday.) The Dogs’ bowl objectives now start with this: get better and avoid Shreveport.
Georgia Tech is 4-1. The Jackets were drilled at Miami in their biggest ACC test thus far. But their next two games are at Florida State (which is coming off dreadful losses to South Florida and Boston College) and at home against Virginia Tech (which looked sloppy Saturday at Duke). Sweep those two, and the Jackets are in line for a BCS bowl. Then watch how quickly the local spotlight shifts. Even split the two games and the Jackets should be in line for a better bowl game than the Dogs, if for no other reason than when you consider the four opponents that follow Virginia Tech and precede the Georgia game: Virginia (1-3), Vanderbilt (2-3), Wake Forest (3-2), Duke (2-3).
Tech has been at this juncture before. There were moments during the overlap of the respective George O’Leary and Jim Donnan regimes — and certainly during the overlap of the Bobby Ross and Ray Goff tenures — when the Jackets had the better product and the attention of the masses. But it hasn’t happened often. At least not since we (or your parents) were sipping malts and wondering if the moon was made of cheese.
The Jackets have issues, particularly on defense. But they have come back. They followed the Miami game with a strong performance against North Carolina, and Saturday were rescued by their quarterback oddly enough. Josh Nesbitt operates out of an option offense but completed 11 of 14 passes for 266 yards and a touchdown with no interceptions.
Georgia’s offense? It struggled against LSU and Arizona State. People wants changes — in the lineup and on the coaching staff. Then again, that’s nothing new. There is confidence at Tech. There is uproar at Georgia. One team is getting better, the other is not.
The other day, following the North Carolina win, Tech coach Paul Johnson said, “We are growing. We still need some leadership on the line, but it is coming.”
But we can’t know what’s coming in Athens. The window is open for the Jackets.
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608 comments Add your comment
tech on the Ga Coast
October 4th, 2009
4:12 pm
fingers crossed…..and pray a lot…thats my game plan…GO TECH…..THWG
slimpickens
October 4th, 2009
4:22 pm
Your blog doesn’t deserve an entry.
Thomasville Tech Fan
October 4th, 2009
4:23 pm
Go Jackets………..beat the Noles!
Lowcountry Bulldawg
October 4th, 2009
4:23 pm
You are exactly right w/ the article. Also I really can’t blame that one on the coaches. You gotta make plays when you have to and UGA failed to make any headway in the first half. Going to be a long rest of the season and am not looking forward to playing the Gators on Halloween of all dates.
LSU_Joe
October 4th, 2009
4:27 pm
The fact that the subject of this column is the exception and not the rule is the real reality. Georgia Tech University (as some of their own players/recruits refer to them as) will never exceed Georgia on a consistent long term year to year basis. They can rely on these exceptions for windows of opportunity to exceed Georgia every 7 or 8 year cycle. The negativity towards Georgia is astounding when they are probably the only team in FBS that has played a BCS conference every week and has had no bye weeks (that’s rough). They could easily be 4-1 at this point had they not lost at the last second yesterday. Yes, I am an LSU fan in Atlanta….defending Georgia.
boozinbuzz
October 4th, 2009
4:30 pm
Oh lawdy, this is going to get ugly.
BufordDawg
October 4th, 2009
4:31 pm
I have to agree – programs appear to be going in diverging directions. It’s sad too, because UGA has some serious talent to work with… I’m still holding out for both sides of the ball to show up at a game this season consistently and I think that team will be a monster to contend with.
Joe M
October 4th, 2009
4:33 pm
Give me a break, Jeff, you moron! Two weeks ago everyone was questioning everything Tech, including the “great” Paul Johnson. They’ve beaten a gross underachiever in UNC and an annual door mat in Miss. State.
Georgia loses to LSU, a traditional power year in and year out by a TD in a wild finish and this is the best you have to offer between the two. I normally don’t do the whole bash the reporter thing but you are pathetic.
True, Georgia hasn’t beaten anyone of note thus far, but neitrher has Tech. My God, they barely beat Clemson who lost to freakin Maryland.
Tech may very well be better right now, but they will never be consistently better or a bigger player in the college football landscape or in this state.
What a pathetic excuse for journalism.
Pi$$onaDawg
October 4th, 2009
4:33 pm
Way to go TECH. Need to really put together a great game @ FSU. Reading the UGA blogs has been the funniest thing to read.
Timmaaayyyyyy....
October 4th, 2009
4:34 pm
Sometimes it’s sooo nice to not have to hear the doggies whimpering. With that said… the Noles have a lot of speed and that seems to be very important (see Miami’s defense). We play the Hokies tough every year. Possible? Yes… but I’m still not convinced we’ve gotten over the hump. PJ is the shining light in our future. He doesn’t lose and that’s the kind of leader you need on the sidelines. Go Jackets… take one at a time and the wins will follow… THWG.
Lil-Dawg
October 4th, 2009
4:35 pm
My dad said in early September we we be out of the top 25 by October,guess the old man knew what he was talking about.
TechDan
October 4th, 2009
4:36 pm
No one but morons call GT “Georgia Tech University.” To the vast majority students and alumni, that is an insult to the Institute that makes us sound like wannabe technical schools like Texas Tech University and Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University. Georgia Tech is peerless in its ability to be both an internationally renowned Research Institute and a mid-level to top class athletics school. Congrats to LSU on their near win over the now unranked Bulldogs. Did you notice that GT just beat Miss. State handily, while your team needed a goal line stand to hang on by the skin of your teeth?
Robert
October 4th, 2009
4:38 pm
It is really terrible to sit back and watch what is happening at UGA. Terrible, TERRIBLE coaching that is consistently wasting the talent we have worked so hard to stockpile. Recruits will notice. Our 2010 recruit class will be average and will not gain another big recruit. Mack Brown saw this coming and jumped ship. We will lose 3-4 more games. CMR has some serious adjustments to make or he should be gone. This regression is UNACCEPTABLE. Especially when AU, AL, LSU, FL are quickly moving ahead of us.
Fire Martinez, Fabris, McClendon, Van Halenger, and Bobo.
Season over.
Who Woulda Thunk It
October 4th, 2009
4:40 pm
Which Bulldog team actually came closer to beating LSU – the one from Mississippi State or the one from Georgia?
Robert
October 4th, 2009
4:41 pm
BTW, how did McClendon get to be the UGA running back coach???!!! He is what, 27? Has no prior experience and was a WR in college. May explain our current TERRIBLE running game. Again, CMR being an idiot. GET GOOD ASSISTANTS OR GET OUT OF ATHENS!
Pi$$onaDawg
October 4th, 2009
4:42 pm
Miami rid themselves of Nix and their DC last year and are looking good. I hope and pray M Richt doesn’t get smart and do the samething. Our DC needs to get on the boys this week and tighten up. I want to beat FSU and in a bad way too.
Keith
October 4th, 2009
4:43 pm
This will be a “down” year for UGA yet they will still probably go 10-3 or 9-4 after the bowl game and will of course beat Tech this year. Even when the game is played in Atlanta, it’s always have UGA fans (pretty sad nerds). Tech will screw up and lose to someone they aren’t supposed to and will lose to UGA. In the end, UGA will be ranked above Tech. UGA will lose to Florida and that will be it.
Keith
October 4th, 2009
4:43 pm
*Half, not have.
ExecutiveStinger
October 4th, 2009
4:43 pm
“But the Jackets have a rare opportunity right now. The Bulldogs have proven for five weeks that they’re an average team, and please let’s not hear any more whines about how some hyperventilating referee made an errant celebration call, or LSU is overrated, or, egad, Georgia only lost Saturday because of one play. Know what? Don’t get shut out for three quarters. Make a tackle when it matters. Then we can talk about one play.”
Exactly. Perfect way to answer the cries of the dawgs. You’re exactly right, Jeff, and an answer like that would help UGA to really see why they have a lot of the problems they have. It is no one else’s fault. Their problems are on their players, their coaches, and their attitude on the field. Ya can’t blame an official or the results of one play when you took a good 3 quarters off yesterday, you still can’t stop getting stupidly penalized, and you can’t stop turning the ball over. Saint Mark isn’t as saintly as he used to be, huh? Cause problems like the ones UGA has go back to coaching. Saint Mark has some serious work to do on this team. They seem to need more help mentally than anything else. Good luck up there dawgs, but this internal disconnect is a problem that doesn’t appear to be going away.
Bat Masterson
October 4th, 2009
4:44 pm
It will be interesting to see how many hits you get with this one, Jeff. By this point all the crazies should be too hungover ,or to drunk to type. Ga. is a frustrating team to follow, all that talent and they can’t cover kickoffs, Jesus. It seems they don’t care about special team play.
I did not like the officials interjecting themselves into the game, but since the Fl game they seem to look that kind of stuff from Ga., where is the discipline. I was disappointed the blatant holding was not called on Scott’s last TD run, but ……..
Lets see what Tech can do from here, say what you like, they have a serious Head Coach. I have always pulled for Tech, except the one game a year, of course. It’s a State pride point for me. That said some of the comments I read on blogs like this have me questioning that perspective.
By the way, do you read novels for fun? Bat
olddawg
October 4th, 2009
4:45 pm
While I agree that the loss was Georgia’s own fault, the fact that Jeff Schultz would write such a stupid article proves he should be writing for the Philadelphia Enquirer rather than a paper in Atlanta. No one in his right mind would evr suggest that Tech will upstage Georgia in this state. Shows he has no backgound in local sports. Tech can’t even fill their stadium for a big game, i.e. North Carolina two weeks ago. And Jeff makes his own case why. Didn’t you say the rest of Techs shedule was Virginia, Vandy, Weak Forest and Duke. Give me a break. If Georgia had played Tech’s schedule it would be 5-0. It amazes me how playing a weak schedule makes you better. The ACC is pitiful. Tech’s two biggest wins were Clemson and NC. And they lost to Maryland and Virginia this week. Wow.
buzz is wiser
October 4th, 2009
4:46 pm
Its been a long time coming, at only 25 the only glory years I remember is watching us win the NC in the Citrus Bowl and Joe Hamilton roaming the flats. I actually ran on the field after UGA fumbled in the end zone, that was a fumble by the way. Its great to be at a position of growth, I’m headed to Tallahassee friday after work looking forward to going 5-1.
Go Jackets!!!!!
Lovey Dubs
October 4th, 2009
4:48 pm
If you want to crown their ass, then crown em!
StillaDawgFan
October 4th, 2009
4:49 pm
UGA lost to 2 top 10 teams. Your biggest defense for Tech’s season is that they beat North Carolina? North Carolina lost to a 0-3 Virginia this weekend. UGA has one of the toughest schedules in the country and even if they have 4 losses I would still argue that they were a better team than Tech beating up on the pathetic schedule they have. Jeff only mentions Florida State and Virginia Tech as the teams that stand in the way of GT going to a better bowl game, but don’t discount that game in November. I’m not willing to make a prediction as to who will win that game yet, but I’m at least smart enough not to go make outlandish claims about a team stealing spotlight before they beat that other team during the season. Yes, they won last year for the first time in 8 years, but do it twice before I even start to consider it something other than a fluke. Oh yeah, what happened to Georgia Tech when they last went up against an LSU team in Atlanta? GT didn’t have to worry about one play when they were down by 5 touchdowns.
Eugene
October 4th, 2009
4:50 pm
Georgia is overated and so is the SEC!
DBCOOPER
October 4th, 2009
4:50 pm
Shultz you have become the new Terence Moore of Atlanta sports page. You throw total BS against a wall and hope someone will read it. Your opinions are not based on fact ala Moore. By pitting the 2 teams that play a complete different schedule, league and are nowhere near what they will be in December as far as teams , is sensationalism at it best. Good luck reporting something of substance and something that requires research and sports intuition. Instead of inserting race as Moore did you simply compare 2 teams on a complete different road in order to get readers. You are weak.
GT fan in MS
October 4th, 2009
4:52 pm
olddawg,
UGA would have beat Miami?
Keith
October 4th, 2009
4:54 pm
“Eugene” you must be the biggest moron ever. The SEC is overrated yet 3 of the top 5 teams in the country are SEC schools? Please go hangout downtown so you can be shot.
You're a dummy...
October 4th, 2009
4:54 pm
….the team from Georgia came closer. UGA actually led LSU with 1:09 to play. Miss State led LSU once in the first quarter, then played catch-up the rest of the game.
Thanks for playing, try again.
olddawg
October 4th, 2009
4:57 pm
GT fan in MS
Ok, 4-1
Go Dawgs!!!
October 4th, 2009
4:57 pm
Hold Richt accountable AND hold Damon Evans accountable. Trustees, Boosters, Alumni, fans:
You want change? Put the heat on Richt and put the heat on Evans with EMAILS, WITHHOLD FUNDING, BLOG, START WEBSITES, boycott Carpets of Dalton or whatever else Richt is selling. Do whatever it takes.
GT For You and Me
October 4th, 2009
4:58 pm
Jeff,your absolutely right. GT is the cream rising to the top int the state of Ga. I’ll will borrow a phrase from Munson at UGAG. We’ll step on their face with a HOBNAIL BOOT!!! GT is a team on the rise and probably for a long time. Once our defense acquires the experience to bend and not break,that comes with playing the game.GT will be unstoppable,no matter what team we line up against… GO JACKETS! TOHWG!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
TechDan
October 4th, 2009
5:00 pm
@ You’re a dummy…: Actually, Miss. St. actually managed to drive to the 2 yard line and it took a goal line stand for LSU to hold them off. UGA didn’t come close again.
FalconUGAFan
October 4th, 2009
5:01 pm
Real nice, Jeff. Calling out the fans?!? I expect that from some of the classless fans from other teams, but you? We know the game wasn’t lost by the refs. We struggled all day but that doesn’t make the calls right. Congrats to Tech and the respectable Tech fans. Go DAWGS!
TechDan
October 4th, 2009
5:01 pm
Oops, got a little redundant there with the “Actually”s. Oh well.
Rose_Colored TV Screens
October 4th, 2009
5:02 pm
The truth hurts. I graduated from UGA in ‘96 and as difficult as it is to hear, many people agree and have seen the UGA football program slipping. With this talent it is unbelievable that we aren’t even ranked right now.
Thanks for writing this article, Jeff!
JeffIsAFool
October 4th, 2009
5:02 pm
UGA loses to 2 teams in the top 10 and Jeff throws them under the bus. Easy to see how Jeff is a fool.
sidslid
October 4th, 2009
5:04 pm
If the window is open on North Avenue, then the place will be robbed. I am neutral between the two schools, but GT is the ugliest college campus I have ever seen. Essentially a twentieth century housing project disguised as a college campus.
Just Thinking
October 4th, 2009
5:05 pm
LSU Joe They could easily be 1-4
BuzztheKiller
October 4th, 2009
5:05 pm
Wow- Miss St was tougher to beat than UGA will be in Nov. Get used to it losers!
UGA '60
October 4th, 2009
5:07 pm
UGA loses to 2 OVERRATED top 10 teams and barely eeks out a win versus historically inferior football programs. You are correct, Jeff. Although this isn’t news to a lot of people.
JeffIsAFool
October 4th, 2009
5:07 pm
LSU Joe They could easily be 1-4….But they are not. Right. Who has Tech played?
Did I say Jeff is a fool?
tech on the Ga Coast
October 4th, 2009
5:08 pm
my god can this be true….Ga fans have cried so much that flood warnings have been issued in N.GA.
GO TECH…..THWG….I know its not nice to pick on tards so I’ll stop. ..its so friggin easy though.
GA>>>>>>= OVER RATED…..even when not rated…lol
JeffIsAFool
October 4th, 2009
5:08 pm
UGA loses to 2 OVERRATED top 10 teams…ROTFLMAO……and who has Tech beaten or even played? No top 20 teams.
Joe Bob
October 4th, 2009
5:10 pm
Tech will never have the following UGa has because Tech alumni are on the whole more intelligent and better educated. By that very nature, they don’t worship the pigskin like the Dawg faithful.
Some folks have more to live for than football Saturdays.
JeffIsAFool
October 4th, 2009
5:10 pm
The truth hurts. I graduated from UGA in ‘96 and as difficult as it is to hear, many people agree and have seen the UGA football program slipping….
Only the drunken fools like you are the ‘many people who agree’.
tech on the Ga Coast
October 4th, 2009
5:10 pm
Ga fans think they should be rated no matter how many loses they have…..DELUSIONAL FAN BASE
KJ
October 4th, 2009
5:11 pm
Wow, if there were ever any doubt about the level of disdain that Schultz holds for UGA, it certainly was clarified in this hatchet job of an article (sic). But I guess you just moistened the collective underoos of the NATS nation, so good job with that.
It’s pretty hilarious how a team can be given a victory and remain #4, while the other team drops out completely. LOL polls.
Blaster
October 4th, 2009
5:11 pm
I wish Tenuda (sp?) was back at Tech. Did anyone see the goal line defense Notre Dame put up against Washington? Three times they had it first and goal INSIDE the one yard line and didn’t score. Awesome!
JeffIsAFool
October 4th, 2009
5:12 pm
Tech will never have the following UGa has because Tech alumni are on the whole more intelligent and better educated.
And those Chinese and Asians never really get into football any way. Idiot.