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.
Tell us what you think about the site
Customer Care »
Vacation stops, manage subscriptions and more
AJC Services
Sections
Other Editions
Visitor Agreement | Privacy Statement
© 2013 The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
563 comments Add your comment
love my Jackets
November 1st, 2009
8:42 pm
I will be the the first to say this….I was not crazy about the Black jerseys GT wore at the Chick Filet Bowl either. When I walked in the Ga Dome and saw what they were wearing, I cringed. Yes, GT would have lost anyway the way they played but I am hoping that this time around, they stick to the White or Gold they have worn all season…There is something to it that is just not comfortable and makes you uneasy.
TwitterDawg
November 1st, 2009
8:42 pm
Georgia would in the BCS standings if we didn’t have to play UF, GT, and….well, anyone who can score.
Please rid us of Richt!!! I’m so sick of him. Even if GT were to lose to GA, their coach would be fired up. If the other way around, Richt would be content and recall the days gone by. He has ridden coat tails and now it is catching up with him. I hope recruits don’t see him for the frawd that he is, and they’ll keep coming to Athens. If not….we’ll soon be the 3rd best school in the state once Ga State starts playing.
TwitterDawg
November 1st, 2009
8:44 pm
What do UGA and Roman Polanski have in common?…..a criminal past, success in the past, and a bleak future ahead.
Wildbill in Yucatan
November 1st, 2009
8:44 pm
Living in the Yucatan of Mexico, the only game I could view of my almamater was you guesed it.. the Miami game. It has been great seeing them recover… but of course the only winning season is when we beat Georgia. This could be one of those years. Yeah! Now if we can only get that game somehow down here! Thanks for your encouraging analysis.
just wondering
November 1st, 2009
8:44 pm
Has there been any coach that came out of FSU that has made it? Brad Scott did not, Amato did not, son Bowden eventually did not, anyone else?
TDone
November 1st, 2009
8:45 pm
What I don’t understand is this type of how many 10-win seasons Muttland has had under Richt. If you do the math, the 10-win seasons came against the SEC, Tech, and the little sisters of the poor. During the tenure of Richt, does Muttland have a signature victory over Southern Cal, Texas, Oklahoma, Ohio State, Michigan, Nebraska, Notre Dame, etc…, any of the traditional powers of college football? The answer is No. The 10-win season thing is the most inflated statistic in all of college football. And now that Damon Evans is making Muttland play ball west of Mississippi, you folks complain about it!!!
Fony Barnfart
November 1st, 2009
8:45 pm
You SEC bigots are really getting old. Take out Florida and Alabama and none of the remaining SEC teams would win the ACC. Tech is 4-1 against the SEC over the last 2 years and has scored over 100 points this year against 2 SEC defenses this year. Against UGA they are likely to lay out another 50 or so.
BTW when UGA scheduled Oklahoma State they were an also ran. You can bet if Richt/Evans had known the quality team that OK State became they would have never scheduled them.
Sure Jeff is trying to start something, but basically he speaks the truth.
Annie Savoy
November 1st, 2009
8:48 pm
Dawgs have no problems chartreuse garter belts and breathing through their eyes wouldn’t solve.
Jonathan
November 1st, 2009
8:48 pm
Im tired of MOST UGA fans saying that TECH always plays a weak schedule. But really, if tech plays any team in the top 25, Georgia fans can say absolutely nothing. At least GT wins against teams that they play who are actually worthy of playing. Georgia on the other hand, especially this year, struggles to win any game. Even when they play a team that in any other conference they would call a weak team, they still struggle. I mean, UGA got completely run back into Georgia when they played TEN, a team that hasnt even been considered for a top 25 vote all year. You, UGA fans say that Vandy is a worthy Opponent when you play them, but when GT plays them they are a weak team. How is that correct in any sense. VANDY plays good against most teams all the time, whether their record shows it or not. For all we know, UGA will get beat by TEN TECH at this point.Good thing UGA plays them at home…..oh wait, you cant even beat AZ STATE at home. So TEN TECH is a formidable opponent this week for a mediocre at best UGA. Tech plays a game this week that still matters toward our ACC hopes and that may actually help us in the polls. Also to UGA Fans, we may only play one top 5 team a year, and 2 sometimes 3 top 10 teams a year, but at least we win against them when we play them. That would a descent schedule because you have win for your schedule to even be looked at for strength; the strength of it doesnt matter a bit if you win only half of your games.
NeNe
November 1st, 2009
8:48 pm
The jackets are representing Atlanta well. They were all up in Nashville. Okay? Go team, go.
What’s this I hear? GT is ranked in basketball too? Oh hell no. As if it couldn’t get any worse for UGA.
Where does that money go that you won from the BCS bowls? Surely, you could either buy better coaches or players. Trust me, honey…money can get you what you want.
TDone
November 1st, 2009
8:50 pm
For the record, Tech did not wear black jerseys against LSU last year, they were blue. In addition, the reason was that LSU got to choose which jerseys to wear, and they chose o wear their white ones.
G8TR
November 1st, 2009
8:50 pm
Don’t worry, Dawgs. There’s always recruiting coming up. Your team doesn’t just re-load, it re-sucks.
UGA Class of 1987
November 1st, 2009
8:51 pm
Jeff,
Georgia is struggling right now and you really seem to enjoy it. I hope you are still around when the Dawgs return to normal and start winning again. I guess then you will run out of things to write about. Why do you feel the need to bash Georgia while complimenting G.I.T. ? Just seems strange to me.
The Dawgs are down, but not out. We are still here. We are not going away. Count on it!
See you in Athens on Saturday
Jonathan
November 1st, 2009
8:51 pm
Also, Jeff may look like a Tech nerd with glasses, but I would bet that he makes more money every year than most UGA grads. He definately does if he went to TECH
Albert the Alligator
November 1st, 2009
8:53 pm
Brandon Spikes is a Thug? I don’t think so but if he is I guess you can add Vince Vance, Brandon Wood, and Brandon Boykin to that list. Cumberland – Georgia is really really good? Ok, you are in denial and of course they SHOULD win this week, that isn’t saying much. Dawg fans you can say one thing that Cox did that Stafford couldn’t, Cox got the ball in the endzone against the same Florida defense 2 times and Stafford could only do it once. Plus this years defense was older, bigger, and better than they were last year. Cox didn’t have much of a chance with a bad defense and no back like Moreno against probably the best defense in College Football and if they are not the best they are in the top 3. 8 Games = 8 Touchdowns Allowed, 75 Points Allowed………by the defense.
Diggity Dawg
November 1st, 2009
8:53 pm
“Robespierre Jeff and Danton Mark are at it again. Nothing like throwing a little chum in the water to stir up the sharks……oh and BTW, stating the obvious.”
Interesting reference RR, but it was really Danton who stirred things up while Robespierre kept to politcs… at least until R sent D to the guillotine.
Just Another Tech Fan
November 1st, 2009
8:53 pm
Jeff, you did a great job rubbing the UGA fans noses in their crappy season. I am a TECH fan but I don’t pretend to hate UGA. I think CMR is a great guy, but he is a “players” coach and “players” coaches never get out of their players what they should (see C. Gailey). They make their way by being great in living rooms and recruiting great talent. A “players” coach with a dip in talent and/or a weak coaching staff is a recipe for inconsistency (see FSU and Tenn). Trust me; we had to deal with the mess that was Chan Gailey who thought 7 wins and a bowl loss was a great season. Gailey knew football, but was more of Cub Scout den leader than a college football coach. In short, as long as you have CMR, you will have great seasons, and you will have seasons like this one. PRAY that you don’t start losing recruits to TENN.
NeNe
November 1st, 2009
8:54 pm
Jonathan – you are right on. WOW.
Though I think they won the Az State game. Anyways, let’s talk about some Orange Bowl tickets. Does anyone know if the Coastal is going to be the Home Team or the Away team. I want to know which side to sit on. Thanks.
Beautiful Monte
November 1st, 2009
8:54 pm
Not to change the subject, but …
I just got off the phone with Brett Favre, and he invited Schultz to “enjoy” a big, fat, cream-filled bagel.
Mazel tov, y’all!
Mazel tov, y’all!
Mark Richt memo
November 1st, 2009
8:57 pm
Have patience with me Dawg fans, I am making almost $3 million dollars this year so 4-4 is not so bad. I will continue to work hard and will guarentee a win this week against powerhouse Tennessee Tech. Go Dawgs.
just wondering
November 1st, 2009
8:58 pm
It was the darkest blue I have ever seen, I’m looking at the pics now. So what LSU wore white, GT could have worn Gold..
Bowl tickets
November 1st, 2009
8:58 pm
Which side of the toilet bowl should I sit on if I’m a UGA fan?
This season is so horrible. I can’t be my usual obnoxious self. What do I talk about when I go out?
Bring on the Gym Dawgs…and quick.
Bowl tickets
November 1st, 2009
9:00 pm
Mark my words….Richt will go on and on about how difficult TN Tech is. Even his children have stopped wearing UGA clothes to school. Poor things.
Shermoni
November 1st, 2009
9:01 pm
OK you need to stop. They were navy, and I agree that it was a mistake. They were successfully worn in 1990, but Gailey ruined it by wearing them in the ACC Championship.
Jeff Schultz
November 1st, 2009
9:01 pm
SHOUT OUT TO JASON, MY MAN!!!
(How’s that?)
TwitterDawg: “Georgia would in the BCS standings if we didn’t have to play UF, GT, and….well, anyone who can score.” … Pretty funny.
UGA Class ‘87 — The whole you “enjoy it when we lose” thing is so old and trite and completely inaccurate. I tell people all the time that I root for me — that is, I root for a story to tell. It doesn’t matter to me who wins or loses. It can’t in my job.
GT Rules State
November 1st, 2009
9:01 pm
a half a$$ QB and control the THUGGY penalties and UGA is an ok team. UGA will still be 2nd to GT next two years and have to put up with Jackets being in national contenders. Sucks doesn’t it mutts
tw3a
November 1st, 2009
9:03 pm
you said the same thing a few years ago about Georgia Tech
cltgtfan
November 1st, 2009
9:03 pm
I know this may be hard for all the UGA centered people at the AJC, but as a hard core Jacket fan, I don’t care about where the ball lickers are headed until the week before we play them. Please stop all the mindless comparisons until it matters. I would like my GT football news without any references to UGA unless we are playing them.
Preseason Rankings
November 1st, 2009
9:03 pm
Jeff,
You forgot that UGA always dominates the preseason and recruiting rankings!!!!!!!!!
They’ll be ranked preseason #1 soon and then we’ll see who is laughing.
For the record Paul Johnson has stated that he nor his team has achieved nothing……………yet.
Gator-lover
November 1st, 2009
9:04 pm
Georgia has the SEC Championship in its own backyard…and won’t even get to play in it. Boo hoo.
And for the UGA grad who will be out waving the orange flags on the street…please make sure I get good parking. Thanks.
And for the UGA grad working at The Varsity…I like my dogs NAKED..with a frosted ORANGE.
Party at Joe Cox's to watch SEC Title Game
November 1st, 2009
9:06 pm
Joe Cox formally invites you to a party to watch the SEC Title Game
December 5, 2009
5 P.M.
4-4 Multiple Penalties Way – Athens, Ga 30605
BYOB
Gator-lover's friend
November 1st, 2009
9:08 pm
UGA will still get a bowl game. ESPN predicted some bowl I’d never heard of.
GT Jacket
November 1st, 2009
9:09 pm
#10 in the BCS!!!!
I've seen the future
November 1st, 2009
9:09 pm
Gator-lover – they won’t be playing in it for a long long time.
GT Rules State
November 1st, 2009
9:10 pm
That’s just it … preseason ranking is unproven. Rather be a sleeper to the BCS than a let down to the basement.
To "Thanks Jeff"
November 1st, 2009
9:12 pm
My Gators just waxed you.. and Tech will wax you to finish off your sorry season. You should be praying for Shreveport !!
GT Rules State
November 1st, 2009
9:13 pm
Good chance that the only bowl UGA will be in will be their own cereal bowl for breakfast. There’s always their “dog’s” bowl.
KJ
November 1st, 2009
9:14 pm
From the tone of his articles, It’s becoming increasingly apparent that Schultz once walked in on his wife getting Eiffel Towered by Herschel Walker and Fran Tarkenton.
GT Jacket
November 1st, 2009
9:17 pm
KJ – as a Tech fan, I can still say you crossed the line.
J Clay
November 1st, 2009
9:17 pm
Hey “mindless dribble” do you realize Georgia is playing another home and home with Clemson in a few years?
Tech is CLEARLY the better team than Georgia this year – coming from a UGA grad…But all this talk about schedule is a joke. Georgia schedule is tougher, but that does not matter- Tech is winning their games and Georgia is not….My best guess is if you reverse the schedules, Tech would still have a better record than Georgia this year…I would guess Tech to have 2 losses: Florida and LSU, beating all the teams Georgia beat plus Oklahoma State and Tennessee….and I am guessing that UGA would have 3 losses with Tech’s schedule: Miami, Clemson, and Virginia Tech…So one team with a little better record and one witha little worse – but Tech would still have the better record this year…
What I don’t understand though is how the Tech fans really believe the ACC is anywhere close to the SEC…Your top 3 teams: Tech, Miami, and Duke or Va Tech – would have no chance in hell against Florida, Alabama, or LSU….Why not just be happy that Tech is better than Georgia this year? Rather you make yourself look stupid trying to say the ACC is better than the SEC in football…
Anyway, just some random thoughts….Still a lot of football to be played…
GT Rules State
November 1st, 2009
9:18 pm
KJ, you are living in the 60’s and 30 years ago by Herschel. Loser
Playa
November 1st, 2009
9:20 pm
At the end of the day, none of the comments and truthful articles will matter. UGA will still be the most overhyped team in the nation…well perhaps second to Ole Miss (another SEC piece of crap).
Has UGA won any of their non-conference games?
Vanderbilt is next
November 1st, 2009
9:20 pm
It’s a shame you are only 10th in the BCS, I am 100% confident you beat Iowa, Cincinnati, Boise State, and TCU. It is kind of B.S. to because Boise State will win out for sure, Cincinnati plays one more good team, same with TCU, and if Iowa had been playing a decent team yesterday they would have lost. They throw 5 interceptions and still win, they barely beat a bad team the week before too. Tech should be 6 at worst, too bad I can’t vote.
Nene
November 1st, 2009
9:22 pm
I’ll be glad when GT’s schedule eases up after Duke. It will be nice playing another SEC team.
GT Rules State
November 1st, 2009
9:22 pm
J Clay, the conference talk typically doesn’t come from GT fans … it’s the sore losers from UGA that’s grasping for something. Agree with your results, except bet we would be in better game with LSU and FL, possibly beating one of them.
athensdawg
November 1st, 2009
9:23 pm
as i ranted next year, we have no heart…..
mark richt is the tin man of coaching.
SOGADAWG
November 1st, 2009
9:23 pm
JEFF, it is too early to make comparisons between Ga and Tech. Lets have this discussion after UGA plays Tech.
Matthew
November 1st, 2009
9:23 pm
Georgia has a bad year every ten, Tech has a good year every ten. Enjoy 2009 while you can, it’s almost over.
Barry from Eastenders
November 1st, 2009
9:25 pm
So, can you please clarify this for us Jeff? You do or do not believe Thomas is a better receiver than Green? You draw a contrast between the two and express your frustration that no one but you seems to notice the great year Thomas is having. So, what exactly was your point? Thomas is the better receiver? Or, you don’t believe that he is and you were just wasting our time drawing a pointless contrast?
Pain_in_the_Mutt
November 1st, 2009
9:26 pm
Winning 50% of the time whether you are playing in your conference or not doesn’t help your excuse of “the SEC is tougher”. What excuse will you come up with now? You are 50% against the SEC, and you are 50% against everyone else.
Good thing TN Tech is coming to town. Now THAT’s a team playing on your level.