Between Dogs and Jackets, only one is dressed for success
The look on Paul Johnson's face doesn't indicate if Tech was winning or losing at this point against Vanderbilt. But we know how things have usually ended up this season.
Georgia Tech showed up to play a football game Saturday night, wearing just its normal white road uniforms and gold helmets. Success, it seems, is dictated less by a program’s costumes than it is the athletes and the direction they’re moving in. Go figure.
We’ve seen for weeks how Tech and Georgia are moving in opposite directions. It hit home more than ever Saturday. The Jackets were not great at Vanderbilt. They actually found themselves trailing in the second half, 31-28, to an inferior team that had been averaging 8.7 points in its six losses. But Tech’s offense couldn’t be stopped. In the end, it pulled away. It’s what good teams do.
Georgia, meanwhile, hung with Florida for nearly a half, then self-destructed. It’s what bad teams do.
The differences between Tech and Georgia don’t stop there.
Mark Richt is losing the local battle to Georgia Tech but he lost the SEC battle to Florida and Urban Meyer a long time ago. (Brant Sanderlin/bsanderlin@ajc.com)
One team is 8-1 and may go to a BCS bowl. The other team is 4-4 and needs two wins just to qualify for Shreveport.
The Jackets have the confidence to come back in games, even when they’re not at their best. The Bulldogs lack confidence and resolve. Why? Because they’re soft, either mentally or physically, or possibly both.
The Jackets, to their advantage, are a reflection of their coach. The Bulldogs, to a disadvantage right now, are a reflection of theirs.
When Paul Johnson sees something he doesn’t like in a Georgia Tech game or a practice, he tells you, sometimes in short, stinging verbal jabs. (Saturday: “I’m disappointed in the way we started. We missed some tackles and that just killed us. They hit a ton of big plays.”) We assume Mark Richt sees many things he doesn’t like. But it sure would be nice to hear and see him breathe a little fire once in a while. Peel paint. Make everybody believe you’re as angry as they are.
Johnson has not been to an ACC championship game yet, but nobody doubts him. Richt has won two SEC championships, but doubters are increasing in large numbers.
Johnson has a defensive coordinator (Dave Wommack) that every Georgia Tech fan would like to drop from a roof top. But there’s a belief that the head coach will mandate improvement or make a change, friendship and loyalty notwithstanding. Richt has a defensive coordinator (Willie Martinez) that every Georgia fan would like to drop from a roof top. But there’s a concern that Richt will do nothing because he has done nothing before.
Georgia Tech has a quarterback, Josh Nesbitt, who is beginning to master his team’s option offense and has developed into a nice passing threat (two touchdown passes against Vanderbilt). Logic says he will be even better as a senior. Georgia doesn’t really have a quarterback. Richt’s plan was to use Joe Cox as a bridge to Aaron Murray and/or Zach Mettenberger next season. Cox might’ve been OK if he wasn’t surrounded by chaos. But he’s not going to make a bad team better. And now why should we assume either freshman will be ready next season?
Georgia has a wide receiver, A.J. Green, who has “NFL star” stamped on his forehead. He is 23rd in the nation in receiving yards (732) with 44 catches, six for touchdowns. Georgia Tech has a wide receiver, Demaryius Thomas, who for some reason nobody is talking about. Playing one more game, but in a run-dominated offense, he is ahead of Green and eighth in the nation in receiving yards (823) with 34 catches and five touchdowns.
Johnson calls every play in the Tech offense. The Jackets rank 17th in yardage and 12th in scoring in the nation. Mike Bobo calls most plays for Georgia, with Richt monitoring. The Dogs rank 97th in yardage and 73rd in scoring.
Tech is redefining the pecking order in the ACC, this year beating Florida State and Virginia Tech, last year beating Florida State and Miami and nearly winning in Blacksburg. Georgia has fallen to a distant fourth (maybe) in the SEC, behind Florida, Alabama and LSU.
In two seasons, Johnson has built a program. He is winning games. In the same two seasons, Richt has manufactured black jerseys, black pants and black helmets, while his program is in decline. He is losing games. Not difficult to tell which school is making the fashion statement.
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563 comments Add your comment
MrSpill94
November 1st, 2009
6:39 pm
Hey “thanks jeff”, if Tech played UGA’s SEC schedule this year, we would finish no worse than 6-2. I think that’s better than you can say. Oh, and we would have beaten OK St, too.
Matt
November 1st, 2009
6:40 pm
Here’s how Sagarin rates the conferences. I’d really shup up about your sec is so good bs.
CONFERENCE CENTRAL MEAN SIMPLE AVERAGE TEAMS
1 PAC-10 (A) = 79.47 79.16 ( 1) 10
2 SOUTHEASTERN (A) = 78.44 78.85 ( 2) 12
3 ATLANTIC COAST (A) = 76.02 75.91 ( 3) 12
4 BIG EAST (A) = 75.56 75.76 ( 4) 8
5 BIG 12 (A) = 74.42 74.75 ( 5) 12
6 BIG TEN (A) = 73.60 74.05 ( 6) 11
thanks jeff too
November 1st, 2009
6:40 pm
@thanks jeff said “if tech were such a powerhouse with one loss the bcs would have them higher than 11th in the country”. Let’s see now, BCS has Georgia ranked….Oh that’s right, they’re not ranked! Like it or not (and it is obvious you don’t), this year at this time Tech is winning and progressing and Georgia is not. If you can’t see that, then your rose red glasses need cleaning!
Volgrad1985
November 1st, 2009
6:40 pm
“Georgia has fallen to a distant fourth (maybe) in the SEC, behind Florida, Alabama and LSU.”
I think you meant to say that Georgia has fallen to a distant fourth in the SEC East behind Florida, Tennessee, and South Carolina.
Buford T Justice
November 1st, 2009
6:41 pm
I’m just gonna go home and punch my mamma right in the mouth
Stinger
November 1st, 2009
6:41 pm
You bunch of losers are so funny. You just make one excuse after another. ” We play in the tough SEC, that’s why we suck”. You could play in a 3AAA high school region and still have a losing season. Let’s face it, YOU SUCK !!! There is no other way of looking at it. How does it feel not to get a bowl bid? You have to be pretty bad since there are so many bowls today. I don’t believe there is a team in the SEC that we could not beat by 3 touchdowns.
GR82BAG8R
November 1st, 2009
6:41 pm
Tyler, Tech’s previous misfortunes were from a different program. The reason the ‘Dogs are so worried can be captured on their faces after the third quarter of last year’s Tech-Georgia game – - sheer disbelief that Tech has a coach who can actually coach. Tech gave up 28 points to Vandy in the first half and only 3 in the second half.
All you Georgia fans can continue to try and denigrate Tech instead of focus on fixing your team’s woes. You have the talent – - much better than Tech. Figure it out and fix it. If the SEC is going to continue to be the pre-eminent Conference in Div-I football you need to get your program on the right track. Florida expects to be playing for its 3rd BCS NC in four years – - and to continue excellence next year. What does Georgia expect to do, outside of try and belittle Tech’s success?
mindless dribble
November 1st, 2009
6:43 pm
dying and I mean dying for you Dog fans to play Clemson. None of you have the guts to suggest that to your athletic dept..no, you would rather run your mouths how you would be undefeated in the ACC, well jump ship and join the conference..you can switch uniforms, qb’s and conferences and your still dogpoop in 09
Buzz'n
November 1st, 2009
6:44 pm
Look on the bright side dawg fans….with our opponents averaging around 20 minutes time of possession, Joe Cox or which ever freshman QB the color conscience Mark Richt throws out there won’t have too much time to embarrass themselves.
HH
November 1st, 2009
6:45 pm
When the coaching staff is incompetent, what can one expect from the team? We know what the Alabama, Tennessee, Auburn fans/donors have done? What the Georgia fans/donors do is yet to be seen. My guess: It will take two more years of nationally televised embarrasments before they do anything. They will be quick to inform you, however, that Richt averages 10 wins per year. Somehow I do not think that, in and of itself, will solve the problem.
mindless dribble
November 1st, 2009
6:46 pm
you know, App State beat Michigan at the Big House and the Wolverines haven’t been the same since….be careful what you wish for you may get it..a nobody opponent who kicks your butt
Houn
November 1st, 2009
6:46 pm
If Tech were in the SEC … they would be in the East … they would play one tough East team each year … Florida. They would play 0, 1, or 2 tough West teams (LSU, Alabama) dependent on draw. No big deal. Jeff comments were right on for the last two months. Doesn’t mean it is forever … but accurate for now.
jojatek
November 1st, 2009
6:47 pm
Nice recovery from that piece earlier today, Schultzy… you’re spot-on this time. CPJ arrived quietly on the Flats last year, tuned out the “noise” (he’s heard it all before), established an identity (something Richt has never done despite his success…), and marched through the second half in Athens last year with another man’s army (Chan who?) in a way that would have made Sherman proud. We’ll never be a “football factory” (don’t want to be) but, by God, we are finally building a football program again. It has been a long, long time coming…
dr. j
November 1st, 2009
6:47 pm
What’s tech record against teams in todays to 20? Explain that tough schedule to me again.
knife in your back
November 1st, 2009
6:50 pm
one more thing Dogpoopers, It took Richt 8 years to be preranked number 1 in the country..with Tech’s current starters all coming back but 2, CPJ will be preranked in the top 5 in his 3rd season. hahahahahahahahahahaha
Country Boy
November 1st, 2009
6:54 pm
I am tired of hearing Dawg fans smack down our coach. He will not turn on his buddies Matinez & Bobo and that is honorable. I say to heck with the 2 or 3 millions Dawg fans that pay the freight as well as what groundwork folks like Dooley, Walker and Irk worked hard to lay for this once proud football program. If we are now eye-level with Miss. St. and Kentucky football then so be it as you cann’t find good friends every day of the week.
Vince's Dooley and Wally's big ole Butt
November 1st, 2009
6:55 pm
Jump to the ACC who is stopping you, do not care what Miami, FSU, Clemson or VT is ranked, its a fight and you wouldn’t win anymore in the ACC either. Go ahead, schedule a game with one of these teams, be our guest. Who is stopping you? Afterall, why waste all that top 5 talent you have…
gojckts1
November 1st, 2009
6:55 pm
All of you ignorant UGA fans are finally getting exactly what you deserve! All of you are morons and EVERY team in the SEC hates you for a reason. Even at 4-4, with your big brother instate team looming at 8-1 you still are arrogant enough to make excuses and dumb comments. All will be quietened later this month, when that 51-7 drubbing in 02 will be avenged with a 63-0 BEATDOWN! ENJOY THE CELLAR BOYS, YOU’ll BE THERE FOR A WHILE!
saddlecreek
November 1st, 2009
7:00 pm
Tyler. You may not know what an average means. You cannot leave out one number to average several. After this season, Richt will not have AVERAGED 10 + wins every year this decade. Boy, I’ll be glad not to have to hear that one anymore. This very interesting article is about coaching. A simple question is this: What do you think Georgia’s record would be today if Johnson were their coach? I would say 6-2 worst, 7-1 best!!!!!!
StraightJacket
November 1st, 2009
7:00 pm
Nothing wrong with the dawgs that can’t be easily fixed:
LONG term contacts to Coach Bozo & Coach “Shaken – Not Stirred” Martini
Coach Ricked is the right person to lead the dawgs.
Fans just need to be patient … “STABILITY” is called for, and LONG term contracts for the OC and DC should do it.
-SJ
dogcrap
November 1st, 2009
7:01 pm
Hey thanks jeff, what’s the madduh, the inbred mutts are gonna be bowl eligible this year??? That’s because YOU SUCK!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA you nerdhole!!!!
Bill
November 1st, 2009
7:01 pm
Brandon Spikes is a thug
link to the eye gouge video:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kDOy-RMIpF0
Of course, no flag
thank you DRAD
November 1st, 2009
7:01 pm
the greatest thing happened when hiring Coach Paul Johnson back in Dec. of 2007..a reporter ask him who was CPJ going to hire as offensive coordinator? CPJ said, “Nobody, I’m calling the D@mn plays”…it was then that GT fans knew we had us a football coach…..
Seriously???
November 1st, 2009
7:01 pm
Jeff — Those are keen insights. Care to share any other unique revelations with us? You know, things like — Earth is NOT flat, the length of a football field is 100 yards, and murder is wrong. Is this really the best you can do? Also, the fact that it took you 700+ words to articulate that which all already knew demonstrates the AJC has taken cost containment to new extremes as they obviously no longer have copy editors on staff.
Patrick
November 1st, 2009
7:03 pm
Stinger, you should know exactly how it feels since there was a 51 – 7 thumping just a few short years ago. UGA was kind enough to allow GT to score very late in the game when Richt had the scrubs in there. Richt put the brakes on early in the 4th quarter and you know it; otherwise it could easily have been a 65 – 0 blow-out.
As for beating any SEC team by three TD’s…..you are insane, man.
1337Tech
November 1st, 2009
7:03 pm
Basically the Dawgs are ragging on us for playing opponents who don’t have great rankings AFTER WE’VE BEAT THEM. Yeah, when you beat a team their rankings go down. That’s why every half decent team that UGA played is still so highly ranked.
dogcrap
November 1st, 2009
7:03 pm
Now how much does it cost to pay off Richt’s contract??? Hmmm, we are still paying off Goff, Donnan… LMAO!!!!!!!! Ladies and gentlemen, we are witnessing the slow, painful (to them, not me) collapse of the house of cards mutt nation. HOOOOORRRAAAAAYYYYYYYYY How bout them mutts???
Tron5000
November 1st, 2009
7:05 pm
Demaryius Thomas is second in the nation in yards per catch (24.2) and if Anthony Allen had enough carries, he’d be first in the nation yards per carry (10.7).
Jackets21
November 1st, 2009
7:05 pm
dr.j,
what is Georgia’s record against todays top 20?
Conner
November 1st, 2009
7:09 pm
This is absolutely ridiculous. Your going to tell me that GA Tech has the power and confidence to come back in games while Georgia doesn’t?! Do you know why GA Tech came back against Vanderbilt??? Because the Commodores are 2-6. They lost to ARMY. Vanderbilt is by far the worst team in the SEC and they came close to beating Tech until the 4th quarter. And why did Georgia not come back against Florida??? Because their the NUMBER ONE TEAM IN THE NATION. That’s why. All of the Gators players were healthy including two time national championship winner TIM TEBOW who is probably one of if not the best players in college football.
Oh and I’m not done. Tech lost to Miami who was completely overrated. And you act like Florida State, Virginia Tech, and Mississippi State are BCS contenders. The truth is those teams will be having a VERY hard time finding a decent bowl game. Georgia lost to #1 ranked Florida, #9 ranked LSU, a top 15 Oklahoma State team ON THE ROAD, and a Tennessee team who outplayed the #2 team in the country and should have one if it wasn’t for a blocked field goal.
Overall, horrible article. Georgia plays one of the toughest schedules in the country and Tech plays inferior ACC teams.
Did I make a point???
dr. j
November 1st, 2009
7:11 pm
Ga. is 0-3. Tech is 0-1 against today’s top 20.
RAMBLE ON!!!
November 1st, 2009
7:11 pm
Wow!!!
When you got a weasel like Schultz, who prorogates a bunch of proven lies about Rush Limbaugh, and takes it out of the archives as-though he never wrote it, calling your coach SOFT, well now that’s really saying something.
But I do have to agree with Schultz the Arrogant Snob on this one though. I’m sure he’ll have a blast demeaning the dawg nation for months to come.
Dawg '88
November 1st, 2009
7:12 pm
One or two seasons of success outweighs 8 seasons in a row of championship football? This dumb sportswriter keeps writing articles like this but just changes the title. He is pot stirrer.
8 years of Fact:
UGA wins 7 in a row before getting one 3 point win last year.
UGA wins 4 division titles….Yech 1.
UGA wins 2 conference titles….Yech 0.
UGA plays in 5 New Years Day Bowls…Yech 0.
UGA wins 4 NY Day bowls….Yech 0.
UGA beats Yech 51-7 for most lopsided loss to UGA ever.
UGA 0 ineligible players used…..Yech too many to count.
UGA over 80 wins….Yech…about 50 wins.
UGA 10 win seasons 7….Yech 0.
UGA top 10 finishes 4…Yech 0.
UGA top 5 finishes 3…Yech 0.
UGA uniform changes 3…Yech never knows what it real colors are.
Coach with class….UGA 1 Yech 0.
When you dominate the series for 8 years come see me JS. When Yech wins 80 games in 8 years…come see me. When Yech goes to 5 NY Day bowls in 8 years…come see. When Yech wins 1 conference title in the next 8 years…come see me. When Yech wins 4 NY Day bowls in 8 years…come see me. When Yech finishes in the top 10 or top 5 several times in thenext 8 years come see me.
Otherwise, Yech’s success and praise is warranted for what it is. Only a small amount of winning. Its does not equal or overcome ineptitude for the 8 years that CMR has been at UGA. 1 or 2 years of success is not = or > UGA’s success compared to Yech.
Its 2 years that’s it. Yap all you want…you can…but its minimal success until you do it consistently. Also, remember this…when UGA loses to Yech…its embarrassing and surprising…when Yech loses to UGA its just another in a long line of defeats…IOW…they’re are not surprised. One bad year at UGA (like 4-4)has been and still would be acceptable at Yech for its fan base. At UGA its cause for concern that the program is struggling…wow. All things are not equal…Yech good years are disaster at UGA. Yech fans still fear that they will lose to UGA this year…you aren’t cocky enough/sure enough to believe it until you see it. And this is in a “great year” where you have surpassed UGA….LOL!!!
45ACP
November 1st, 2009
7:15 pm
Faith, hope and love. I have all 3 for the Dawgs.
Not a good season to say the least.
I trust Coach Richt to do the right thing when the season is over.
Maybe Next Year
November 1st, 2009
7:18 pm
The difference between UF and UGA is Florida loses by 11 in 2007 gets pissed and beats UGA by 39 in 2008. UGA feels embarassed and how do they respond…by losing by 24 this year. The good news is UGA will only lose by 17 next year. That tells me all I need to know. There’s no pride, no attention to detail, no imagination from the whole team. Poor AJ Green. He came to UGA for this? Thank goodness he only has one more year and he’s out.
RAMBLE ON!!!
November 1st, 2009
7:18 pm
haha Patrick is basking in a game played 8 years ago. LMAO. Pathetic just doesn’t seem to do that justice.
Patrick 48-0, is worse than 51-7, but keep hanging your hat on it.
thank you DRAD
November 1st, 2009
7:18 pm
honestly, I do not know of any Tech fan that fears UGA this year. If anything they can’t wait for the game. I personally have more concern to play Clemson twice in one season. Hard to beat any team 5 straight times.
SCTechfan
November 1st, 2009
7:20 pm
To Thanks Jeff: Tech has been over to the SEC and are 4 and 1 the last two years and will soon be 5 and 1.
rpi
November 1st, 2009
7:20 pm
College football is entering yet another new era. FSU and Miami dominated the ’80s with superior speed on both sides of the ball. A number of teams caught up (literally) with the team speed during the ’90s. We are now in an era where there are not than many players who bring superior skills. (I am a little tired of the Tebo “best quarterback ever” – would Peyton Manning never play on this Florida team?) Anyway, UGA and other schools (see FSU) keep recruiting the five star top player who has been coddled since he was in the seventh grade. The five star generally only sees college as getting in the way of the NFL. Unless you have a true tough minded coach who is not afraid to discipline, the team will always underperform.
SCTechfan
November 1st, 2009
7:22 pm
To Dawg ‘88: You are a laugh a minute. Can’t stand it can ya!
Savannah Jacket
November 1st, 2009
7:23 pm
@ thanks jeff = In my opinion, you are an idiot. You possess the grammatical skills of a 5th grader (or UGA graduate – same difference). Like many in Bulldog Nation, you continue to focus more on the past than the future. And who can blame you? I am looking forward to seeing you post the same BS four weeks from now. That is, of course, if you haven’t shuffled off to your drive-through window for the night shift, much like tonight!
mindless
November 1st, 2009
7:24 pm
hey Dogcrap, why do you fans not ask for your money back from Goff and Donnan? When Ky fired their basketball coach they ask for theirs. I found the article by Goff interesting that he invested his money at Zaxbys and says he sits in his rocking chair now. I mean the man is in his 50’s going on 80. Why does the radio station WSB allow Goff to give his opinions and host a sunday call in show? The last thing I would want to listen to is Chan Galeys opinion.
dr. j
November 1st, 2009
7:24 pm
What are you uga and tech people fighting about? Neither of you has beaten a team in the top 20!
UGAissolastyear
November 1st, 2009
7:26 pm
UGA is not a distant 4th in the SEC. They are more like 6th or 7th. I like all the UGA fans that say GT played sorry teams in the SEC. Lets see – we beat both Miss St and Vandy on the road and scored more points against those teams than Florida, LSU and Georgia did. Hell, LSU only scored 23 pts against Vandy and they played them at home.
Last year’s win at UGA, to me, was no upset. We had already started our ascent. It is continuing. UGA had started its descent. It is continuing. Johnson is an in your face mother you-know-what! Richt is a nice guy. We played so-so on the road and still won by 25 pts!
Spin it anyway you like UGA fans. Just doesn’t cut it.
Just An Observation
November 1st, 2009
7:27 pm
NEWSFLASH TO SOME UGA FANS: Football schedules are put in place years in advance. Subsequently, GA TECH cannot control who they play this year in terms of which teams are in the Top 20. GET REAL!!!!
And now.. for your next excuse???????
UGAissolastyear
November 1st, 2009
7:28 pm
Yech fans fear we will lose to UGA? Where you get that idea? Johnson is not the type of guy to fear anyone and I’m sure he plans to win every year.
UGAisso1980
November 1st, 2009
7:29 pm
I changed my name.
mtraininjax
November 1st, 2009
7:30 pm
Dog fans, thanks for coming to Jax and spending money. The real Dog fans came, not the ones hiding behind a keyboard complaining about their head coach. Face it, UGA does not have the same talent they have had in the past. The BARELY beat Arizona State and South Carolina AT HOME. Had they not, they’d be looking at a losing season.
Tech won on the road at both SEC schools. UGA can barely win in their own house. Glass windows and stones!
UGAisso1980
November 1st, 2009
7:30 pm
. . . . such a long, long time ago. Put in your Beta tapes and re-watch it and revel in it. All you got.
Buzz'n
November 1st, 2009
7:31 pm
88 – living in the past keeps you from having to open your eyes today. All that great ugag success and you still have the same number of NCs as Tech in the last 30 years. Funny thing though, all that success was against Chan Gailey…and since he no longer coaches anywhere, it is irrelevant. How is your record at home against GT’s current coach?