There’s no stopping Georgia Tech this time around
Jonathan Dwyer ran for two touchdowns, and Georgia Tech is on run of eight straight wins.
DURHAM, N.C. — Don’t misunderstand. It’s not like Georgia Tech reached some new plateau Saturday. This isn’t the first time the Jackets have won 10 games in a season, nor the first time they’ve clinched a berth in the ACC title game, nor certainly the first time they’ve beaten Duke.
But there is a difference in 2009. A different feel about what’s going on. A different expectation for what comes next. A 10-1 record, a trip to Tampa, a 49-10 win over Duke — this is not as good as it’s going to get for Tech. There is no ceiling. Only three more potential wins.
“We’re not satisfied,” running back Jonathan Dwyer said. “We won the ACC Coastal Division today, and, don’t get me wrong, that’s good and we’re going to celebrate. But we haven’t finished what our main goals were, which is to win the ACC and be in a BCS bowl game, and then win the BCS bowl game. And right now our minds are on Georgia.”
Even Paul Johnson found it difficult to be upset about too much Saturday.
Their minds were on Georgia three years ago. Just not like now. In 2006, the Jackets thumped Duke, 49-21. But even at 9-2, Chan Gailey didn’t have universal support. Even at 9-2, there was an uncertainty about the team, and the head coach, among the fan base.
In the next three games, it was reaffirmed why. The Jackets lost to Georgia (again). Then they lost to loss to Wake Forest in a dreary ACC championship game (9-6). Then they lost to West Virginia in the Gator Bowl. A 9-2 record with a No. 16 ranking turned into 9-5 and a mile from the top 25.
Gailey was given one more season by the new athletics director, Dan Radakovich. Then he was gone. Radakovich wanted a coach who would elevate the Jackets to higher ground and excite the fan base. When he hired Navy’s Paul Johnson, it was like plugging the program into a wall socket. Johnson has coached 24 games. He is 19-5. Cue the trumpets.
“Sure,” Johnson said when asked if he thought this was possible so soon. “We just missed it last year. … The thing these guys have done is they’ve bought in and worked hard. Sometimes I get after them. I got in the face of a couple of them today, even when the score got to be [one-sided]. They’ve learned to accept that and go on. Other kids might not. So my hats off to them. They’ve earned it.”
The Jackets stumbled out of the gate, falling behind 10-0. “We didn’t adjust,” Johnson said later, “we just started playing better.”
Duke punted on its next four possessions. Tech scored touchdowns on four of its next five. Game over.
Backups took over in the third quarter when the score grew to 42-10. It was welcome time off for the starters, who’ve labored for 16 straight weeks of practices and 11 straight games without a bye. Now, they can embrace the bye week before the Georgia game. The season could not have unfolded any better since that loss at Miami in Week 3. Tech has strung together eight straight wins and climbed to seventh in the rankings.
“We were devastated after losing that game,” said Dwyer, who in the past four games has rushed for 610 yards and six touchdowns. “Coach told us at that time that the good teams don’t lose two games in a row, and we’ve used that as momentum ever since.”
Long after the game, you could still hear Tech players shouting from outside the locker room.
“We’re excited,” Johnson said. “A lot of people have doubted them along the way, especially early. And they’ve just been resilient. Sometimes it’s not pretty, and they do some dumb things. But the bottom line is they found a way to win.”
Three years ago, we stopped counting wins after the Duke game. Nothing suggests that’s going to happen this time.
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355 comments Add your comment
cf smith
November 14th, 2009
11:19 pm
paul johnson has awakined the nation’s sleeping giant
GTPHISH
November 14th, 2009
11:26 pm
Jeff,
I have loved your writing about Tech this season.
Congrats to the team and program on a killer season so far!!!!
jabster
November 14th, 2009
11:27 pm
If UGA returns to form and turns the ball over a bazillion times, it will be ugly for UGA when COFH rolls around. Meanwhile, nice comeback and good football against Allbarn tonight. Impressive (seriously).
BIG South Georgia DAWG
November 14th, 2009
11:30 pm
I’m telling you pretenders, there’s a beat-down coming November 28, and Mark Richt is going to show Paul Johnson why he make more money!
GT9
November 14th, 2009
11:42 pm
Congratulations to the 2009 ACC Coastal Champs!
You all have worked extremely hard every week to play your best game and 10 times out of 11 you have found a way to win. It’s been a lot of fun watching you play football this season. Thanks so much for all the hard work and all the good football that this fan’s TEAM has shown.
10-1. WOW!
(Thanks for the congratulatory posts by our opponents’ fans. That is class.)
Buckhead Bulldog
November 15th, 2009
12:01 am
Congratulations Jackets! You all earned the right to play in the ACC Champ game in Tampa. I truly believe you all will be wearing the crown.
Hopefully, there are signs of life with my Dogs so we can at least make the game interesting on the Flats.
See you in a few.
Babalu
November 15th, 2009
12:07 am
Yes, but can you even sell out the stadium in Tampa?
Missed Tackles
November 15th, 2009
12:09 am
We had so many missed tackles, I thought I was watching Willie’s UGA defense! Last week, we had “Georgia-esque” penalties. Let’s iron that out during bye-week and KICK UGA’s A$$!
Let them have all the penalties and missed tackles.
Hayseed Dixie
November 15th, 2009
12:09 am
Babalu,
No, in order to sell out Tampa, Tech would need several thousand more fair-weather, Wal-Mart fans, most of whom would leave if we got down by 2 scores.
You know, kinda like UGA had against Florida.
Newnan Jacket
November 15th, 2009
12:16 am
Man, I thought this game was going to be close. Was I ever wrong! Thaddeus Lewis looked lost today. The coverage was pretty good, the DL played well, and our Achilles heel, the underneath routes, were bottled up. Yes, we missed tackles – especially when the second and third string were in, but the scoreboard says it all. To think that I was concerned that the 2nd ranked passing offense in the ACC was going against our sorry secondary.
On to UGA: Auburn played well in its first two drives while UGA played as it has all year. Then something happened to UGA’s defense. For some reason they started playing well. Maybe Mercury was in retrograde, but I think they actually started to stick to their assignments! I hope they don’t get used to playing that way. If so, the game on the 28th will be a little more interesting.
GT 54
November 15th, 2009
12:18 am
Great season Jackets…But…there is only one game. The Dogs. Without a win over the Dogs, it is a losing season. As for Chan…you never got it. In my four years at Tech, we never lost to the Dogs. It is the only game. I still miss the SEC.
G Man
November 15th, 2009
12:25 am
So UGA beat down AU. Good. Will make Nov. 28 much more interesting. UGA will play hard, as will Tech. Clean Old-fashioned hate has arrived for another year. And now we get a week to rest (not that it did UGA any good last year). But Tech really needs it; we’ve played too many weeks w/o it. Go jackets!
By the way, Chizit (sp) looked lost late in that game.
Darrin
November 15th, 2009
12:50 am
I’m so proud of my Clempson – We are the only team that Maryland beat this year other than James Madison. And, he is one of our forefathers!
paynomind
November 15th, 2009
1:25 am
I hope that our coach, PJ, has been pulled aside, and had it clearly illustrated to him how important the game in two weeks is to every Tech alumn and fan. Honestly, i’d rather go 1-11, never talked about on ESPN, no rankings, but the 1 be UGA, than to go to a BCS bowl, ranked in the top ten, and be 11-1 with the loss against UGA. That will kill me.
Johnson. Beat Georgia. Win lots of game, get better, teach the kids. Beat Georgia. Position yourself to be a new Belicheck. Get the ACC as puddy in your hands. Beat Georgia. Be who Kurt Herbstreet picks the the fav, be who Lee Corso puts the Bee head on. But… Beat Georgia. Honestly, lose to Duke, lose to wake… but Beat Georgia. Please. Know what counts. Beat Georgia. Chan took us to heights. We won some things. We had a good team. Probably our best pro player in Calvin Johnson went to the NFL to re Tech during Gailey’s reign. But why did he get fired? Beat Georgia.
Beat Georgia.
Beat Georgia.
Thats what matters.
Do it.
N.AveTradeSchoolCHE
November 15th, 2009
1:43 am
Great win! The players can enjoy their well deserved bye week before crushing the Georgie Bulldogs and then (probably) Climpsun in the ACCCG. Too bad the scheduling for the ACCCG could not be worse. There would likely be a much larger student contingency were it not the Sat. before finals
About acc, duke, georgia tech, jackets | Find me About
November 15th, 2009
2:31 am
[...] Jonathan Dwyer ran for two touchdowns, and Georgia Tech is on run of eight straight wins. DURHAM, NC — Don’t misunderstand. It’s not like Georgia Tech reached some new plateau Saturday. This isn’t the first time the Jackets have won 10 games in a …Read Original Story: There's no stopping Georgia Tech this time around – Atlanta Journal C… [...]
Phil
November 15th, 2009
3:27 am
“I hope that our coach, PJ, has been pulled aside, and had it clearly illustrated to him how important the game in two weeks is to every Tech alumn and fan. Honestly, i’d rather go 1-11, never talked about on ESPN, no rankings, but the 1 be UGA, than to go to a BCS bowl, ranked in the top ten, and be 11-1 with the loss against UGA. That will kill me.”
Two words: Army – Navy
Johnson knows the importance of rivalry games.
gtne80
November 15th, 2009
4:56 am
GT 54 said it all…”Great season Jackets…But…there is only one game. The Dogs. Without a win over the Dogs, it is a losing season.” The focus over the next two weeks has to be clear. Bet your butt that the Dawgs would LOVE to derail this season for us (all part of Good Old Fashioned Hate). Dawgs looked impressive after the first quarter tonight. Let’s celebrate and enjoy the Coastal Championship for a day or two and then get really serious. We can’t spot the Dawgs 10 points like we did Duke. We need to come out on fire and never, NEVER let up. It’s time for this team to put together their best 60-minute game of the season.
Calhoun Fawls
November 15th, 2009
5:24 am
I live in the upstate of SC. Clemson folks are already talking about how they will win the rematch. They think Tech’s win over them was a “fluke.” Hating Georgia comes natural. Hating Clemson comes with living among them. LOL!
Born2Buzz
November 15th, 2009
5:41 am
paynomind and others, if you’ve been following GT you would know that CPJ learned that day 1. Chan, you never got it.
I too was actually worried that we might go to Durham and stumble. But it looks like the days of losing when you are not supposed to are over. 4 years ago Chan had an incredibly talented team and his poor coaching lost the last 3 games to ruin what should have been a great season. Now I don’t have to worry about that. If we get beat it will be because the other team is better, not because our coach has no guts, doesn’t have the right game plan or simply “didn’t have the team ready to play”.
Yes, the Puppies would love to ruin our season with a win in 2 weeks, and until yesterday I was worried about the game. But the Chan era has been completely washed away and I can now be confident that my team will play to their abilities and not overlook inferior opponents.
It’s great to be a TECH fan now. I’m going to enjoy being at the next 2 games and cheering the brave and bold.
Atlanta Jacket
November 15th, 2009
5:52 am
Congratulations Jackets – dominating win and won like a champion. On to the dawgs – we owe them payback for 51-7. CPJ does understand the importance of rivalry week – he never lost to Army while at Navy. I expect us to light up the scoreboard in a big way on the 28th.
Did you notice the comment on ESPN2 about the dogs – “they have lots of rivalries” – Yep pretty much every team that plays ugag on a consistent basis hates them.
THWG!
jacket3
November 15th, 2009
7:23 am
Very few stories about GT other than the wire services…and that’s a shame. Spiller is No. 2 in Heisman voting – he’s good but not that good. Dwyer has better stats, Nesbitt better numbers than Tebow. Notre Dame got more TV coverage for blowing their game. Tech is rarely mentioned outside of the AJC.
You and Bradley keep bangin’ the typewriters – maybe someday soon Tech will finally get their chance to shine. And we can return John Heisman to the flats….
Kevin
November 15th, 2009
7:29 am
Who goin see yall no one will show up at Tampa see GT n whomever they play…in ACC championship be another studio crowd there like 21,000 show up and if Boston college plays Tech night night tech u lose 24-10 to BC. U ha ha are VT wins u still lose it 45-10.
uberVU - social comments
November 15th, 2009
7:30 am
Social comments and analytics for this post…
This post was mentioned on Twitter by JeffSchultzAJC: This isn’t 2006, and Paul Johnson isn’t Chan Gailey. This #GaTech season will end differently. http://bit.ly/4EnvCY…
Kevin
November 15th, 2009
7:35 am
I.m sorry we play clemson in acc title game no VT are BC my error..there but still no big crowds if Tech fans can’t come to durham n fill that place full then duke fans why should they in Tampa..it was fun after we i hate say beat Ga badly. Tech will run mouths of we all rwady won acc title as clemson wins in a rout 55-0 over GT endin there chance for a Natl title…Ha Ha like that happen in 1990 they won share with col buffalos but u techs fans forget so easy!
Supersize that order, mutt
November 15th, 2009
7:51 am
Kevin, do you have any education at all? That was the most incoherent bunch of garbage I have ever read. Go to school, budbba.
Delusion is Better than Reality
November 15th, 2009
7:55 am
Wow Kevin. You still drinking at 7:30 in the morning, or are you that incoherent all the time?
Go Jackets
November 15th, 2009
8:05 am
Great win. We will take care of business on Nov28.
Kevin….are you some kind of idiot?
Open Wide DDS
November 15th, 2009
8:26 am
Kevin, I know your Sons of bitc… ERRRR, I meant puppies won last night, and you probably have hang over from celebrating that win, but please have a cup of coffee or something before you post that kind of idiocy.
Stinger
November 15th, 2009
8:29 am
I hate UGA like everyone else, but going 0-11, suffering through 11 games and then beating UGA, would not make the season. I have really enjoyed the entire season. UGA will be the icing on the cake, but it’s not the only game. Beating Duke is just as important and probably a lot tougher game than UGA will be.
Open Wide DDS
November 15th, 2009
8:36 am
Wow, what a great win by LSU over Tech… Louisiana Tech!!!
*** 24-16 ***
Glaring dominance and supremacy of SEC.
Now that USC lost 3 games, can we please have them out of top 10???? They’ll probably be dropped to 11th the way they’re getting the love by everyone in the media.
#1 GT fan
November 15th, 2009
8:41 am
ACC champions. Get use to it. If coach PJ stys, you are going to see alot more of GT.
And just think…… GT has good players know to run the option, just imaging when Coach PJ gets to pick his offense players. UNSTOPABLE!
There is one thing that I have always wanted GT to do every yea. And that is beat Georgia. GT better come out playing hard. I say this because this is a rival game. And you never know what will happen in a rival game. ( HINT HINT, last year at Georgia, GT beat them. That was NOT suppose to happen ).
GO JACKETS!!!!!!!!
#1 GT fan
November 15th, 2009
8:45 am
I have a question for all of you puppy fans.
I said rival game in the first one I posted. If you ask me, It seems like every team Georgia plays are there rivals.
Why is that? Is it because no one likes Georgia?
Ezekiel
November 15th, 2009
8:45 am
Lot of moment for Georgia Tech now heading into the Georgia and and a chance for Paul Johnson and company to make a statement that they are now and in the near future the dominant team in this state. The dawgs are reeling despite winning their last 2 games, time to kick that dawg when it is down so it don’t get up for a while. Talk more Tech football at: http://www.bbuzzoff.com
Alphare
November 15th, 2009
8:53 am
My tunnel vision to the future: Hometown team 39 – Athens 21
Tru dawg
November 15th, 2009
9:01 am
Babalu – I hope having a bigger stadium and larger fan base seriously makes up for another disappointing season. It does not for me. It’s obvious that Meyer, The Mad Hatter, Kiffin, Johnson all have something our dawgs do not: a commitment to excellence.
Open Wide DDS
November 15th, 2009
9:03 am
CPJ and company will outdo the game in 1916:
GT 224 – UGAG 0
Well, maybe not. But I want it to be a rout and I want him go for 2’s if we are winning by more than 3 touchdowns.
Open Wide DDS
November 15th, 2009
9:05 am
Tru dawg, Please don’t put CPJ in the same category with Kiffin. GT players don’t get arrested robbing at a gas station.
Thank you.
Buckhead Bulldog
November 15th, 2009
9:13 am
We do not claim “Kevin” as one of ours….an imposter: ( Dude! Go to bed. Whoa.
With both of our Ds looking like Swiss cheese, what do y’all think the o/u will be in this game? 60?, 70?, 80? Yikes! I think the higher the scoring the better the chance for you all to mess up, and give us a chance to slide a W. If it is somewhat tight, I guess that you all beat us by 7. Your O is too sound! Again, if it is a shoot out then the dice roll and the ball could bounce our way.
Anyway, after last night with AU I feel a LITTLE better but if you all come out hard and don’t let up on the pedal you should beat us. (Personally, I think you will do this because you have a hell of coach who prepares his players). If you let us hang out with you late into the game, then you are playing with fire.
See you in a few. Again, congrats and good luck on the trip to Tampa.
jimbob
November 15th, 2009
9:29 am
congrats to ‘the I’ (you know! The Georgia ‘Institute’ of Technology). Tech-UGA is rarely a gimme for either side, but at least under CPJ, we know that Tech will be ready to play, and will put it all out there. No more of this rolling over like Tech did under the last regime.
Cornelius Cooper
November 15th, 2009
9:35 am
Don’t underestimate Clemson. I mean, let’s look at the game during Week 2 (that I was at). Clemson made two big mistakes that cost them 14 points. The other score came on that long run where a defender missed his responsiblity. (All that happened in the first quarter). Other than that, the defense was able to hold that offense in check. And only gave up 10 points after the first quarter.
And now that Clemson defense has bought into the defensive coordinator’s (Kevin Steele) is the best defense in the ACC. They have the ends, linebackers that can stop or limit Tech’s offense.
So I think the last team that Tech wants to see is Clemson. Not saying that Tech will lose, but that game really will be a toss up and a game that Clemson can win too.
Don’t be so quick to crown yourselves. GO TIGERS!
UGASlobberknocker
November 15th, 2009
9:50 am
Congratulations to all Tech fans for an excellent season.
Fletcher
November 15th, 2009
9:52 am
GT will beat uga. They are a sec middle of the pack team. Without AJ, they are even less.
Gt wins this one 42-20
GT121
November 15th, 2009
9:55 am
Great win Jackets…thats the way its supposed to be done…10 zip didnt even have me wondering if it would be close..These Jackets ARE for REAL…I have two pups in RED, brothers (whom my Mother dropped when they were babies) already crying about the thumping they know will come in 2 weeks…BTW ,CPJ anyway Tech could get a schedule sayyyy,like Bammys and Fla…LORD we would be #1 in Nation with those cupcake games…#1 team in nation…TEXAS…#2…TCU..#3..GT..GO JACKETS
GT121
November 15th, 2009
10:02 am
C Cooper..the only reason Clemson got BACK into the game was because GT missed about TEN assignments in the late 2nd Qt and afew more in the 3rd Qt…ohhh dont kid yourself, , GT will ROLL this time,after all, ALL u have is CJ Spiller..(who is a GREAT player) but that is ALL u have…GO JACKLETS
Andy
November 15th, 2009
10:02 am
All this talk about the GT game in week 2 is futile. Both teams are different than then. Both are much better. It will be a great game but I look at the coaching and give a big advantage there. PJ v/s Dabo? Come on. Clemson has 3 losses with one being to horrible Maryland. They rely basically on one player. Contain him and they are very limited. The refs helped them win yesterday. The fumble that was called not a fumble, which was worse than any sec call this year, assuered clemson of a W. The game would have been within 6 without that bad call. Having next week off is big for GT. It allows them to prepare for UGA and Clemson and rest up. The timing couldn’t be better imo.
BOOGIE MAN FROM HARTWELL GA
November 15th, 2009
10:04 am
GOOD MORNING CLASS…..31-24…….MIGHT BE LIKE SHERMAN COMING TO ATLANTA!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Andy
November 15th, 2009
10:05 am
And all this talk about the acc and bowl teams. We will get 7 teams. That is about average where last year was well above average. And I bet we win at least 4 of those bowl games.
BOOGIE MAN FROM HARTWELL GA
November 15th, 2009
10:21 am
GT121…………..GET YOUR HEAD OUT OF YOUR A$$…CLEMSON HAS MASSIVE WEAPONS…..FORD……PALMER……ELLINGTON ………A BETTER AND MORE SEASONED PARKER…..YOUR D-PENDS WONT BE ABLE TO COPE ……….TIGERS GET SOME JACKET ASS THIS TIME…..OH, AFTER THE DAWGS LETS NOT FORGET THAT…….
Go Jackets
November 15th, 2009
10:26 am
Hey Boogie…you are dreaming again. Dawgs are not as good as Duke…who we destroyed yesterday. You also will lose to KY.