Georgia Tech wins, but this was nothing to celebrate
Josh Nesbitt had an early 4-yard touchdown run to get Georgia Tech going. Nesbitt ran for two scores and threw for two more, but it turned out to not be such an easy night.
NASHVILLE — When a team has won five straight, launched itself into the BCS bowl picture and generally has left the impression it will skate through the “Nerders Row” portion of its schedule — Virginia, Vanderbilt, Wake Forest, Duke — it doesn’t expect to have games like this.
Georgia Tech defeated Vanderbilt on Saturday night 56-31. Looks one-sided. It wasn’t. Nor should it have been this sloppy or this difficult.
Expectations on North Avenue suddenly are meteoric. Maybe the altitude got to be too much.
It’s all still sitting there for the Yellow Jackets, everything they could possibly have wanted when this season began. A double-digit win total. An ACC championship. A BCS bowl game. A top-10 ranking. A second season under Paul Johnson to reaffirm that the first season under Paul Johnson wasn’t nearly a fluke.
But this game was a not-so-subtle reminder that there’s still the possibility of the bottom falling out. Vanderbilt entered this game with a 2-6 record. Its only victories had come over Western Carolina and Rice — and they don’t really count.
But where was this game at halftime? Tied at 28-28. When the Commodores drove to a field goal on their first possession of the second half, they led 31-28.
How bad should the Jackets feel about that? Bad enough to inch toward the balcony and maybe seek therapy.
In Vandy’s six previous losses, the Commodores totaled 9, 3, 7, 13 (that against Army, and only because of a field goal in overtime), 10 and 10. One of those 10’s came against the Bulldogs. So you need not wonder why Tech defensive coordinator Dave Wommack is as unpopular on The Flats as Willie Martinez is in Athens.
If the Jackets don’t want to concern themselves with impressing poll voters, that’s one thing. But they can’t give up an 80-yard kickoff return or a 62-yard touchdown run, as they did Saturday night, and expect to skate again. They can’t assume any of their remaining opponents will implode the way Vandy did.
Because there’s only one Vandy.
Jonathan Dwyer gave Tech a 35-31 lead late in the third quarter with a 3-yard touchdown run. Then Vanderbilt turned back into Vanderbilt.
On the ensuing possession, running back Jamie Graham fumbled on the Commodores’ 19-yard line. (It was one of three Vandy fumbles.) Two plays later, Dwyer was in the end zone again from 3 yards out and suddenly it was 42-31 after two touchdowns in a span of 40 seconds.
Early in the fourth quarter, quarterback Josh Nesbitt connected with Embry Peeples for an 87-yard score, and the game looked like a rout. But for most of the night, it wasn’t.
It would be overstating things to suggest this was an “escape.” It was more like a reminder.
After a string of impressive conference victories over Florida State, Virginia Tech and Virginia — two of those coming on the road — expectations surrounding this program skyrocketed. The Jackets had the look of a team that was together and focused, that was following their coach, that seemingly would not be derailed in this home stretch.
Even coach Paul Johnson, while stating he believed Vanderbilt was better than its record indicated, did not anticipate any sort of a letdown. When asked earlier in the week about playing a non-conference game against a lesser opponent, he said: “I think our football team, to be a special one, has to go out and want to win every game. … I’m not worried about [a letdown]. I hope our guys are mature enough to realize that Vanderbilt is a good football team. We’re playing against the SEC. We’re not supposed to be able to compete. It’s a chance for our guys to match up with [an SEC team] again.”
Except that when you think, hear and see Vanderbilt, you don’t think, hear or see SEC. You see a small stadium that’s one-third empty on a campus where football doesn’t matter
It matters again at Tech. When you stumble, everybody notices.
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469 comments Add your comment
Ray
November 1st, 2009
4:34 pm
tell it
Did you even graduate high school? My gosh are you ignorant. Nice spelling and grammar. Being a UGAg is perfect for you.
Matt
November 1st, 2009
4:34 pm
Let’s be real if Tech plays defense like they did last night they will never be a powerhouse program. Hello Paul Johnson i know you love offensive football but we can’t be a BCS title team giving up 30 plus points to a team like Vandy!
Delbert D.
November 1st, 2009
4:36 pm
Georgia Tech, Penn State, USC. That’s interesting. Iowa is still a sham, though. They are hanging by threads, AND they’ve already beat Penn State. That Iowa-Indiana game looked like ACC-Lite.
NO RESPECT TECH
November 1st, 2009
4:37 pm
GT is really no respect Tech because the ACC is so bad. And the SEC teams you guys beat your chest about beating would be like the best team in the SEC playing Duke and Maryland or Virginia or Wake Forrest. GT is the best team in the ACC. In other wordsn nothing to brag about.
You got luck that Vandy’s 1st team quarterback got hurt in the first few minutes of the game and Vandy had two critical fumbles. Vandy scored 23 on Army and 31 on the best team in the ACC with their second team QB. Each week that goes by proves being the Champion of the ACC is being the Champion of nothing. Tech will lose to either Duke or Wake Forrest, then UGA (yes even the DAWGs as bad as they are will finally put one decent game together) and then Clemson for the ACC Championship game. That’ll be a good representation of where no respect Tech really is. You guys have been really lucky this year but luck can’t last forever.
See you on the flats in November. We got nothing to play for but beating you this year, just like it has always been for you guys. Your are still Tech, a bunch of nerdy losers that have a decent season once every ten years.
You won’t win the ACC and you won’t win 10 games and you won’t beat UGA and you won’t finish in the top 10. Suck on that.
Delbert D.
November 1st, 2009
4:41 pm
Those Vandy fumbles were *very* forced.
RamblingWreckFan
November 1st, 2009
4:46 pm
Ray, YOU’RE The DOLT. From the Georgia Tech website. Ramblin became the catch phrase in the 60’s IDIOT.
Since that time, the Rambling Wreck car has joined a much older tradition-the Yellow Jacket-as the official school mascot.The current Wreck is the latest in a line of distinctive white and gold cars on campus. While there was no official Rambling Wreck before 1961, several fraternities took turns driving various such vehicles.
The first reference to a Rambling Wreck vehicle on campus was applied to a 1914 Ford owned by Floyd Field, Dean of Men. The Technique student newspaper was the first published reference to the car as the “Rambling Wreck” in 1927. The paper spoke out against Field when he considered trading the car that year, but he disposed of it anyway.
old chestnut dept.
November 1st, 2009
4:47 pm
My new favorite stupid quote: “the woeful ACC.”
Flowery Branch Yellow Jacket
November 1st, 2009
4:48 pm
Wow No Respect … your momma didn’t teach you much about manners, did she? Take a chill pill, find a girlfriend, and get a life!
Horn
November 1st, 2009
4:48 pm
SEC has 3 ranked teams just like the ACC. So simple math even a Uga fan can understand
Sec 3
Acc 3
3=3.
Delbert D.
November 1st, 2009
4:49 pm
Coach Johnshon isn’t afraid to play true freshmen. Izaan Cross had some big plays at DE. CPJ also isn’t afraid to change things up when mistakes are being made. Anybody see #26 (Reese) in the 2nd half? That’s because he wasn’t in there. He had more whiffs than Jeff Francoeur. He’ll be better next game.
Statue for CPJ
November 1st, 2009
4:50 pm
@Drexel Gal, the peach bowl (I still call it that) is better than the gator bowl. The Gator gets #3 in the ACC while the peach gets #2 and I like Dome better than Jax.
ralph
November 1st, 2009
4:53 pm
AJC lameculas UGA J-School rejects suck
Delbert D.
November 1st, 2009
4:54 pm
coach smith – Well, whatever. UGA beat Vandy by 24, and Tech beat them by 25. We all know the Tech-Georgia game will be competitive.
SECFan
November 1st, 2009
4:55 pm
Matt, Yes (3) SEC ranked Teams. #1, #3 and #9
ACC #11, #17 and #24.
Big Difference
SECFan
November 1st, 2009
4:56 pm
Horn, See my comments to Matt on rankings.
Stinger
November 1st, 2009
5:02 pm
Coach Smith, UGA wins??? Help me out here. They are so far and few between!!!!!!!!!! Ha!Ha! Ha! 41-17 and 56-31. Bring on Bama and Florida.
Delbert D.
November 1st, 2009
5:02 pm
coach smith – for your analysis, try this: subtract one loss from and add a win to Clemson, Vandy, FSU, Virginia, Clemson, MSU and UNC because those teams lost to Ga. Tech. Their records would be more respectable if they’d played somebody like Charleston Southern.
Delobert’s Law – “It never pays to beat a top 10 team. Beat them, and theyre not top ten anymore.”
Delbert D.
November 1st, 2009
5:04 pm
Old Broken Fingers don’t type too good sometimes.
Delbert D.
November 1st, 2009
5:05 pm
Rename the Cynthia McKinney Parkway the Jeff Shultz parkway, and it would be an improvement.
Yellow Fuzz
November 1st, 2009
5:07 pm
This just in. New AP Poll
1 Florida (38) 8-0 1448
2 Texas (13) 8-0 1408
3 Alabama (8) 8-0 1390
4 Cincinnati 8-0 1212
5 Boise State 8-0 1211
6 TCU 8-0 1147
7 Oregon 7-1 1130
8 Iowa 9-0 1127
9 LSU 7-1 1036
10 Georgia Tech 8-1 949
Delbert D.
November 1st, 2009
5:10 pm
SEC Fan – Yes, but #1 hasn’t played #3, and #3 hasn’t played #9 yet. Refer to Delbert’s Law. Anyway, Iowa had better not sneak up there, or the BCS will be seriously compromised.
Delbert D.
November 1st, 2009
5:14 pm
Hmmm, the SEC is right up there with the Cincy’s and Boise States.
Just kidding, no need to flame. The top tier of the SEC is *very* good.
reebok
November 1st, 2009
5:22 pm
I see the Tech-Wake game is set for 3:30. Does anybody know whether Wake’s QB did in fact suffer a concussion? Any word on his availability yet?
Joe Schmoe
November 1st, 2009
5:23 pm
Just got back from Vandy. What a game last night, and a tale of two halves. I think the D stayed on the bus for the first half, but in the second half played like they wanted to murder somone. There was some big hits that caused oooos and ahhhs from GT and Vandy fans alike. Must of been the chewing at half time by CPJ. Although this wasn’t the best game, I dont see it as Jeff does. It is soemthing to be proud about. We have a coaching staff that isnt going to put up with taking a game off (#26 Reese) and will put some one that hasnt played alot (#33Edwards) and make them successful. It could have been better, but we will take what we can get.
Stone Cold Schultz
November 1st, 2009
5:39 pm
BehindEnemyLines: “Denial”…Are you serious? Last night “not a performance that wins the next 3 games”?!?! What you smokin?
Name which team in the next 3 (Wake, Duke, UGAG) beats Tech when the offense produces 56 points and 600yds…There’s NOT AN FBS TEAM that would’ve beaten Tech last night when scoring 56 pts and rolling up 600 yds….PERIOD.
Stop joining Schultz’s Pity Party and CELEBRATE an awesome road win with an offensive performance that won’t soon be forgotten…Long passes, TDs, Dwyer runs, TDs, Nesbitt runs, TDs…WOW! Anyone referring to last night’s TROUNCING of Vandy as a “stumble” is looney tunes!
Rufus
November 1st, 2009
5:46 pm
PJ better use the game as a wake-up call because if you watched the Wake-Miami game, Wake won’t roll over and play dead. They ran up and down the field on the U, and, except for a few well-placed passes and catches, would’ve/should’ve won the game. We can’t expect to give up 31 points and win against Wake.
alabama and florida, thats it, lmao
November 1st, 2009
5:52 pm
how quickly that tech idiot forgot the louisiana state bengal tigers, you remember them don’t you little buggie, nice conference nerdo , we’ll see ya in Atlanta after thanksgiving even if the bug nation gives the dawgs no shot at winning……..its setting up beautiful with all the smack talk from the trainbuilders, llmmaaoo
CASEY
November 1st, 2009
5:56 pm
Hey Jeff even the best teams have games like that. Look at Iowa this weekend against Indiana and Florida against Miss St last weekend. Its just football. Teams have ups and downs. The point is they got it together and won. A win is a win and that is all that matters. No team is perfect every weekend and no team will ever play a perfect game. Just get the win thats all that matters.
Matt
November 1st, 2009
5:58 pm
And guess where 1 3 and 9 will be when they play each other or when they all beat each other which is very possible. Try 5 10 and 20. Not much of a difference eh?
Sunshine
November 1st, 2009
5:59 pm
alabama and florida, thats it, lmao
November 1st, 2009
5:52 pm
how quickly that tech idiot forgot the louisiana state bengal tigers, you remember them don’t you little buggie, nice conference nerdo , we’ll see ya in Atlanta after thanksgiving even if the bug nation gives the dawgs no shot at winning……..its setting up beautiful with all the smack talk from the trainbuilders, llmmaaoo
Hmmm, a dog fan talking smack while being 4-4 and in the dweller. You might wanna worry about your next opponet doggie, and not Tech’s success.
Sunshine
November 1st, 2009
6:01 pm
Matt
November 1st, 2009
5:58 pm
And guess where 1 3 and 9 will be when they play each other or when they all beat each other which is very possible. Try 5 10 and 20. Not much of a difference eh?
You cant beat a flawed system, but you just got to go out and win.
Matt
November 1st, 2009
6:02 pm
Yes Delbert. 1/4 of alabama and uf’s schedule is a joke. fiu troy charl southern n texas chattanooga
Sure is easy to have 8-0 records when 1/4 of your games are pansies. Other sec fans from other teams should laugh at this too. Some are just idiots.
Booger
November 1st, 2009
6:06 pm
still waitin to hear your game plan doggs. and who you starting qb will be. time of possession boys.. time of possession.
SECFAN
November 1st, 2009
6:08 pm
Matt,
Because of their strength of schedule, don’t expect #1, #3 nor #9 to fall to far. Not far enough that you would EVER see GA. Tech in the BCS Championship for sure.
Matt
November 1st, 2009
6:08 pm
It’s funny to read some of the bs on here. They say vandy and miss st are crap. Well fla struggled to beat miss st. Lsu did too. Fla has already played 2 cupcakes. They also played miss st who these ignorant types call sec crap. miss st beat ky last night so i guess that makes ky crap. and fla has vandy next week. so 5 of fla’s 9 games so far are against crap. then throw in ark who a crap ga team beat and you got 6 teams. make is 7 when you realize tenn was playing like big crap when fla played them in week 3. and now since ga is crap, that’s only one team that fla has played, lsu that isn’t crap. but wait. miss st nearly beat them, only losing by 4. miss st had 4 turnovers in that game. lsu had 0. so imo lsu is crap too. so there you have it. fla has played nothing but crap this year. bama too. so you are undefeated playing crap. makes sense.
Booger
November 1st, 2009
6:09 pm
love it when the doggs are mad at their coaches
Matt
November 1st, 2009
6:11 pm
sec fan
are you really this ignorant?
sagarin’s sos shows gt’s sos at 12. here’s where your sec teams and their “tough” sos are now.
fla 27
bama 36
lsu 39
so don;’t give me this sos crap. oh yeah vt is 7 and miami is 11. nice try sherlock.
http://www.usatoday.com/sports/sagarin/fbt09.htm
Booger
November 1st, 2009
6:12 pm
doggs, percy harvin is on fox, gb vs minn, right now. he kicked your butts too if you wanta watch him some more.
Alabama Jack
November 1st, 2009
6:19 pm
Don’t sweat it, Tech fans. I got a good deal yesterday on some used black helmets we can wear for the rest of the season. They haven’t even been sweated in. We will have to affix a T after the G, but hey, the price was right. I got them for tebow, I mean, two bucks. Anyway, their magic will surely propel us over the rest of the schedule.
Delbert D.
November 1st, 2009
6:41 pm
CASEY – I’ve been on a rant on this for some time, so I apologize in advance. *Don’t use Iowa as an example of an undefeated team, that somebody could “upset! * They play like tissue paper.
CASEY
November 1st, 2009
6:45 pm
Delbert D yeah I don’t think Iowa is that good either, but the polls do. It is what it is.
Delbert D.
November 1st, 2009
6:46 pm
Alabama Jack – I don’t think those helmets fit properly, so you might try Bethune-Cookman (Martinez’s old job). Did you see Joe Cox’s face near the end of the game? It looked like his head had been in some kind of multi-axis vise.
techredneck
November 1st, 2009
6:48 pm
Very informative article. I love tech but as far back as I can remember they have always neglected their defense. If they would improve it they would be hard to handle. I’ve watched college ball for over 55 years and let me caution our fans. I know its fun to boast and brag but beware these successful seasons never last. Just look at that bunch over in Athens. They’ve had sucess for awhile, but now they’re on hard times. Remember that old saying, “what goes around, comes around”
Delbert D.
November 1st, 2009
6:57 pm
CASEY – I think that there is a Big-10 fudge factor in the rankings. That is one weak conference. Boston College beat Central Michigan (good MAC team) 31-10 yesterday. CMU beat Michigan State earlier in the year. Iowa didn’t beat IU Saturday, they were handed the game (again).
I don’t think that Tech will play in the NCS game this year (and don’t really care). What I’d like to see, and no offense to SEC fans, is the perfect storm of Bama, Florida and Texas losing, and have TCU and Cincinnati in the top 2 spots. Maybe then these “powerful forces” that “can’t be overcome” can be flushed aside and the BCS crock will crack into shards of clay.
CASEY
November 1st, 2009
7:06 pm
Yeah I agree, Bama, Texas, and Florida lose which i think is going to happen but I still think the BCS wil put one of them in the Champ game which would not be fair because the SEC is over rated. And I know Iowa will lose one prob Ohio St.
techredneck
November 1st, 2009
7:15 pm
Hey,” tell it like it is”‘ Better watch your spelling. Theres some sharp UGA genus name of slobberknocker who loves to show his genus by correcting spelling. You used “their”.In that case it should have been “they’re”. Of course you being a UGA follower, no one expects you to know how to spell any way. Also being a Ga. fan, is different. You want everybody to know who you are. Your teeth are rotten, you dip and spit, you have fart contest every time you and your freinds watch a game. You drive a big loud worn out pickup with “DAWGS” on the back window, and those little red dawg flags blowing in the wind. I hear Chan Galey is unemployed. Call him.
Keep it Real!
November 1st, 2009
7:20 pm
What type of article is this? When Florida and Alabama struggle with a terrible Arkansas team, a weak Miss St team and you make the excuses that the SEC teams are tough to play. Well GT played and SEC team on the road and won going away. Give GT credit for blowing out Vandy!
UGA did not blow-ut Vandy and they played at home!
A road win in the SEC is a great win if continue to the overrated SEC football conference! GT has 2 road wins against SEC teams! What does that mean to you?
UGA fans GT is really going to stomp you this year!
Patrick
November 1st, 2009
7:25 pm
Hey, GT is on the rise now but let’s not forget the fifty one to seven stomping just a few short years ago. How did that stomping feel? It could have been a lot worse if Richt hadn’t put in the 3rd string in the 4th quarter. The game should have ended with sixty five to zilch.
Patrick
November 1st, 2009
7:29 pm
Yellow Fuzz, please cite one team(above #8) that GT could beat.
Hondo
November 1st, 2009
7:46 pm
Jeff,
I would back off a bit on the Wacky Weed before you wright your comments.. So a couple of “Hail Mary” plays kept Vandy in the first half. Then as all great coaches and teams do Tech makes the necessary adjustments in the second half and the rest is histoty.