We’re live from Vandy (which I think is in the SEC)
Tyler Morgan (63) and cornerback Mario Butler (2) lead Tech off the buses at Vanderbilt.
NASHVILLE — Welcome to Vanderbilt, where the major college football team from Georgia that isn’t so preoccupied with the color of their helmets and uniforms will play a game tonight.
Georgia Tech has won five straight since its only loss of the season in Miami and has a good chance to win out in the final four regular season games (although I say that without yet knowing what scary color pants and helmets – ooooh – Georgia will wear Nov. 28). The rest of the schedule: Vanderbilt, Wake Forest, Duke, Georgia. If the Jackets win out, they’ll be 11-1 overall (8-1 in conference) going into the ACC championship game.
This is what Vandy's Stadium looks like before the game, and it's not that much different during it.
And seriously, how can Tech lose tonight? Granted, weird things happen sometimes at Vanderbilt. Opponents seemingly get lulled to sleep. It has happened to Georgia. But this is a bad Vandy team. The Commodores are 2-6 and the wins have come over Western Carolina and Rice. In the last four games (all losses), they have scored only 7, 13, 10 and 10 points. Their offense is last in the SEC in average time of possession (26.41). They’re going against a Georgia Tech team that’s first in the ACC in TOP (35.31).
Ever hear of that game called, “Keep-away?”
Really, the only way I see Tech losing this game is if their heads are somewhere else. But focus hasn’t been an issue since the Miami game. When coach Paul Johnson was asked about the potential of a letdown earlier this week, he said: “I’m not worried about that. 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.”
Funny Johnson should harp on the SEC thing. Anybody who has been here knows it’s the most un-SEC-like atmosphere you’re going to find. The football team almost seems like an afterthought on campus — not quite Duke-like but pretty close.
One more thing, and I’ll expand on this when I rewrite this blog before halftime. This is a close Georgia Tech team. The players like each other, they’re confident and they’re following their coach, which is why I have a hard time seeing them cracking.
The team bussed up to Nashville Friday. Part of it is economics: The one-way trip with four buses saved the athletic department about $25,000, compared to if the team had chartered a flight. But because it’s a relatively short drive from Atlanta, the drive to the airport, and time involved in loading an unloading the plane, travel time is not that big of a difference. Tech did the same thing in the Florida State game: bussed there and flew back.
The Jackets stopped in Chattanooga on the way to Nashville and ate a barbecue place called, “Sugar’s.” Is that bonding, or what?
According to associate athletic director Wayne Hogan, “There were goats grazing outside the restaurant. Some of the payers had their pictures taken with goats.”
It’s the only goats we should expect on this trip.
That’s it for now. I’ll check back in here shortly. But let me ask you: Do you have any concern about a letdown tonight?
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786 comments Add your comment
Chris (Statesboro)
October 31st, 2009
9:06 pm
If Tech doesn’t get thier act together they’re goning to be dropping in the rankings (they do have a smigen of hope)
RogerDawg
October 31st, 2009
9:06 pm
Wow. SEC team #12 = ACC team #1
SRF
October 31st, 2009
9:06 pm
this is a JOKE
louisville slugger
October 31st, 2009
9:07 pm
Dang… guess we need to “simplify” the defense again…
Biff Pocoroba
October 31st, 2009
9:07 pm
Wommack and Blair should be send home at half time. Just have another guy kick it out of bounds
Dirk Digler
October 31st, 2009
9:08 pm
This is like the FSU game all over again.
Biff Pocoroba
October 31st, 2009
9:08 pm
Now the offense has disappeared. Vandy has plenty of time to score again with our D
RogerDawg
October 31st, 2009
9:09 pm
SRF
You’re right, this is a joke. Bad, bad perfromance by your Tech team. Very overrated it appears.
Mike S
October 31st, 2009
9:09 pm
wow 28 points given up to vandy in the first half.. I am sooooooooooooooooooooooooo impressed.
Oregon 17 USC 10 .. WOOT
TechFan
October 31st, 2009
9:10 pm
Oregon 17 Southern Cal 10 8:39 2Q
The Chief
October 31st, 2009
9:10 pm
Do we have any defense? Any special teams?
W&Ws
October 31st, 2009
9:10 pm
Vanderbilt Seminoles???
J.J.M.
October 31st, 2009
9:10 pm
is it that hard 2 find a kicker?
Puppy Wine
October 31st, 2009
9:11 pm
Rogerdawg, I know you only want to count the first half, but turns out we play both halves. Go Jackets! Crush Vandy in second half. (Roger, note the two different ways that “half” is used.)
Here we go again
October 31st, 2009
9:11 pm
with tech, every game against an unranked opponent seems to be a trap game.
Biff Pocoroba
October 31st, 2009
9:12 pm
I guess Paul didn’t realize that we didn’t have a kicker last year and forgot to find one. Mohammed Yawi Ouwi couldn’t kick it past the 20 either.
Dirk Digler
October 31st, 2009
9:12 pm
that was freaking pass interference? Wtf.
MalibuGT
October 31st, 2009
9:13 pm
defense is missing too many tackles. maybe we need to borrow those grambling helmets from rogerdawg to fire up our team
Here we go again
October 31st, 2009
9:14 pm
where was the pass interference flag?
Jeff Schultz
October 31st, 2009
9:14 pm
I think the simplified defense is “don’t tackle anybody.” Simple.
Jeff Schultz
October 31st, 2009
9:14 pm
Dirk — Yeah, I was expecting a flag to come out on that too.
The Chief
October 31st, 2009
9:15 pm
Looked like a catch to me.
TechFan
October 31st, 2009
9:15 pm
ACC officials are as bad as SEC officials.
Biff Pocoroba
October 31st, 2009
9:15 pm
The official who was screened off called it incomplete
son_sir
October 31st, 2009
9:16 pm
Oh No… Here comes special teams again. Hold your breath.
dh
October 31st, 2009
9:17 pm
Is it possible that within the next 20 years robots will officiate football games?
Morris
October 31st, 2009
9:17 pm
Hey Coach PJ. I hope you realize now Womack HAS TO GO. Get rid of this guy. He’s TERRIBLE!
Biff Pocoroba
October 31st, 2009
9:17 pm
It must be Halloween. Nesbitt has turned into Joe Cox
son_sir
October 31st, 2009
9:18 pm
dh.. It’s possible that in 20 yrs. we will all be robots. Programmed by the gov’t.
Morris
October 31st, 2009
9:18 pm
I would take Ga’s defense over this crap.
Biff Pocoroba
October 31st, 2009
9:18 pm
We fially kicked it out of bounds. No trust in special teams
Michael
October 31st, 2009
9:19 pm
TechFan, I think the ACC officials are actually worse than the SEC officials; they just don’t get as much national attention.
RogerDawg
October 31st, 2009
9:19 pm
This game is pathetic. This is two marginal teams right here.
Jeff Schultz
October 31st, 2009
9:19 pm
This is a team Tech should be beating by two touchdowns. I would imagine that’s what Johnson will tell the team at halftime — though in more choice words.
TechFan
October 31st, 2009
9:19 pm
24 yard punt. TD given up on kickoff. defense not tackling.
CPJ at half: “We have to score everytime we get it.”
Michael
October 31st, 2009
9:20 pm
I can’t believe this game is tied at halftime.
son_sir
October 31st, 2009
9:20 pm
Well… All in all.. that half sucked.
dh
October 31st, 2009
9:20 pm
Here’s what is happening. The special teams and defense has shifted the momentum back to Vandy. Now the offense is struggling some. If the D & ST don’t get fixed at half, then this game is gonna be to close at the end.
SRF
October 31st, 2009
9:20 pm
yep Roger – you should know marginal when you see it
GTGirl
October 31st, 2009
9:21 pm
Rogerpup – Now I understand that you have had a rough day. Getting spanked by UF must have hurt pretty bad. That’s probably why you’re drinking your sorrows away in your trailer park. You just keep sippin that crazy GA moonshine (the same kind your fans were on earlier when they thought they could actually win) and go on over to your blog and whine with your other pathetic toothless fans and talk about how your team is still going to win a NC with 4 losses. I realize it’s going to take you a few days to accept the beatdown you received, but since you don’t have a job, you’ll have plenty of time to lick your wounds.
45ACP
October 31st, 2009
9:21 pm
Morris – be careful what you ask for.
TechFan
October 31st, 2009
9:22 pm
Roger – You do know you are on the Tech blog not the UGA blog. The fleabags are the poster mutts for marginal and under achievers.
son_sir
October 31st, 2009
9:22 pm
Time for a strong one after that half….to the cabinet.
Wow
October 31st, 2009
9:23 pm
all i can say is…..THIS IS THE DIFFERENCE BETWENN THE ACC AND SEC!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! GT WINS ACC CAUSE ACC SUCKS DONKEY DIK
son_sir
October 31st, 2009
9:24 pm
Roger.. Shouldn’t you be over on a UGag blog trashing your coaching ?
RogerDawg
October 31st, 2009
9:26 pm
At least we got beat by a good team. You’re getting shown up by the BOTTOM of the SEC pack. But, not surprising. Vandy will have a huge second half. ACC championship will be a joke…the “champion” can’t beat bottom of the SEC
TechFan
October 31st, 2009
9:26 pm
Wow – how does it feel? you know, the whole sucking thing…
fuzzy bee 1st half angry jacket 2nd
October 31st, 2009
9:26 pm
tech by 21 in the end
45ACP
October 31st, 2009
9:27 pm
I’m a Dawg fan and trust me, it’s more fun over here.
GTGirl
October 31st, 2009
9:28 pm
Rogerpup – Let me remind you…we have 1 loss, you have 4 losses. Remember that? Enjoy the blue carpet bowl…the smurfs are looking forward to your arrival…if you make it that far