Tech loses bragging rights, chance for something special
Look a little different than the end of last year's Tech-Georgia game? The Jackets lost to the Bulldogs, 30-24, and they won't soon forget this. (Brant Sanderlin/bsanderlin@AJC)
Signs of change were everywhere.
Bobby Dodd’s stands weren’t half-red. Thus, the game didn’t have the usual neutral-site feel to it. Bowl officials didn’t jam the press box. What for? Georgia Tech’s future was fairly simple, and Georgia’s was fairly depressing. The Jackets could be headed to the Orange Bowl, a game with history. The Bulldogs could be headed to the PapaJohns.com Bowl, a game with anchovies. The Dogs even had a temp-Uga on the sideline.
But if the Jackets feel like they just got knocked back in time, there’s a reason.
A year ago, they stunned Georgia at home and tore branches off the sacred hedges. On Saturday, with an eight-game winning streak and a fantasy season unfolding, they fell behind early to the Bulldogs 17-3 and fell short in a comeback. They lost 30-24.
The 12 months of bragging just kicked off from the other direction.
It doesn’t mean Tech can’t win the ACC title. It doesn’t mean the Jackets can’t play in Miami and finish 12-2. But this one will sting for a year because this is one most expected they would win. They were playing a mediocre Georgia team coming off a loss to Kentucky, and it doesn’t get much worse than that.
Tech coach Paul Johnson downplayed the significance of this game earlier in the week. He believes everybody should focus on the big picture, and that picture includes conference championships and competing for BCS bowls, not just bragging rights over big brother from Athens. “I don’t want to leave the wrong impression because I do realize that the game is important and I know for a lot of our fans that this is the game they want to win,” Johnson said. “[But] we want to get to the point where our program is bigger than one game. We want to win the game, but we want to do some other things that just beating Georgia won’t do for you.”
And Johnson’s right. Tech’s season is about more than beating Georgia. But beating Georgia ranks pretty high.
Bottom line: This was the Jackets’ chance to take charge, and they failed.
Tech quarterback Josh Nesbitt left the game in the first quarter with a sprained ankle but returned later. (AP photo)
This won’t do much to boost morale in the ACC’s offices, either. The conference’s two championship game entries, Tech and Clemson (to South Carolina), both closed the regular season with losses to SEC rivals.
Tech trailed 17-3 at halftime. It clawed back to within 30-24 in the fourth quarter after a touchdown run by Josh Nesbitt, who keyed the comeback when he returned from an ankle injury. When Georgia’s Blair Walsh missed a 55-yard field goal attempt with three minutes remaining, it gave them one last chance. But a dropped pass by Demaryius Thomas at the Dogs’ 35 ended the final threat.
There was a general consensus that this would be a high-scoring game, with the game’s two defensive coordinators, Georgia’s Willie Martinez and Tech’s Dave Wommack, taking turns absorbing blows like those old inflatable clowns that keep bouncing back up after being punched. (In Martinez’s case, there’s no guarantee he’ll be bouncing back up after the season.)
What nobody figured: At halftime, Tech would be trailing 17-3 and its run-dominated offense — one of the top units in the nation — would be outrushed by Georgia 204-80. (On second thought, maybe it’s Wommack who won’t be bouncing back up.) That kept the Jackets’ offense off the field.
Not only was Tech limited to four possessions, it lost Nesbitt, who might as well be this team’s transmission. When he suffered a sprained ankle with 1:03 left in the first quarter, every projection about this game changed. He tested the injury on the sideline, eventually went into the locker room, presumably for a wonder cure, and returned during the second. But backup Jaybo Shaw ran the next possession and threw an interception, which the Bulldogs turned into a touchdown and the 17-3 halftime lead.
But Nesbitt played Tech’s final possession of the half, not looking full-speed, and then returned strong in the third quarter. He led the Jackets to touchdowns on their first two possessions of the second half (including a 77-yard scoring pass to Thomas). But the Dogs’ responded with touchdown and field-goal drives and held a 27-17 lead. If nothing else, it had turned into the game most expected.
But the end wasn’t what Tech players or fans expected. Last year was about getting attention. This year has been proving their worth. It can still be a great season. But not nearly as great it could have been.
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1,802 comments Add your comment
Grilleth Braums
November 29th, 2009
12:43 am
How bout them dawgs, Jeff, Mark, and Tony! Where are all those cocky jackets tonight?! Ha Ha!!
Saint Athens
November 29th, 2009
12:43 am
maybe the techies won’t obsess over Georgia Blogs and Posts this year….
just kidding…
what do you Tech fans and Bulldogs fans have in common?
They both are obsessed with Georgia Football!
Russ GATA
November 29th, 2009
12:43 am
I think UGA will win the SEC conference one year.
They won the ACC to night.
Family of 4 or more ACC championship game tickets $10 or best offer.
Stop me i have been infected by Techmites. You know the life long Tech fans who came out of the wood work after that rousing Duke victory and before the not so significant Georgia game.
Cuz
November 29th, 2009
12:44 am
Mark Richt 2. Paul Johnson 1. Who got schooled now. Who is the better coach now. Old Erk Russel proverb. Crow is best served with feathers.
DawgsCRUSHJackets
November 29th, 2009
12:44 am
LexDOg,
Yeah Tech will have rings made with the LOSING score this year. LOL
Teck Sux!! 30-24 LMAO
November 29th, 2009
12:44 am
Caleb King just scored AGAIN!!!
GTU was OWNED tonight. HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAAAAAAAA
GT Joe
November 29th, 2009
12:44 am
DAwgscrushjackets:
NEver rank up with UGA? Hello, we’ll finish in the top 10. Dawgs will be lucky to finish in the top 45. Wake up dummy
GT is a 4th rate high school team
November 29th, 2009
12:44 am
ACC FELT INSULTED BY GT’s LOSS DEMANDS REPLACEMENT FOR CHAMPIONSHIP GAME, HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA FOREVER
theTruth
November 29th, 2009
12:44 am
GT gi joe, EVERY GT fan I spoke with this week said they would rather beat UGA than beat Clemson.
SAV DAWG
November 29th, 2009
12:44 am
GTSTEVE, where are you? Can you read this english? LOOOOSER
honky tonk
November 29th, 2009
12:45 am
the trailer parks will be off the hook tonight!
SE GA LADY
November 29th, 2009
12:45 am
Now I remember the picture of the Tech player from last year, you know, the one with the really yellow teeth, who had the piece of the hedge in his teeth. I think you posted that pic a few days ago. Wow! That must have been a real inspiration for the player to kick ***.
weston
November 29th, 2009
12:45 am
((( 30-24 ))) hahahahaha
Glad it hurts SO bad.
Thank God and Greyhound for King and Ealey
There’s a familiar sheriff in town. His name is Mark Richt. And he owns you yellow wiggies.
Go on and tell yourselves it “doesn’t matter”. It matters, yellow wigs. It hurts bad. Real bad.
And IF your teenage girlfriends M, Yellow Fuzz, and Ramble On hadn’t shoved the trash in our face for the last 12 months, I doubt your blogs would be this bad tonight. But Payback is a bee-atch.
Get used to it. There will be more butt whippings like this one. Because of the way your fan base acted after winning last year, the dawgs are going to beat you 10 yrs in a row.
GO DAWGS
Since 1980....
November 29th, 2009
12:45 am
Teck….ooops…I meant Tehc…..LOL!!!!! you guys suck and always will, aint nothing changed we own yall, give us your lunch money beee—-otches…buzz on that!!!! Who’s your daddy!??!….we spank your girl @$$#$ in front of you nerd boi.
theTruth
November 29th, 2009
12:45 am
GTJ, you are no longer in the top 10 but you have had a very good year.
Right On Time
November 29th, 2009
12:46 am
Off topic:
Would someone please plug “Blindside”?
45ACP
November 29th, 2009
12:46 am
Fuzz – Where are you. Hiding down there in Doerun?
uga all the way
November 29th, 2009
12:46 am
This is great! Who cares about Tech or the ACC? They don’t matter, you lost to UGA’s worst team in 10 years and might win your conference championship. Great, but what does that really mean? Shouldn’t the winner of the ACC just give up their BCS birth to one of the at large teams that really deserves it. If you can’t beat a 6-5 team what does that say for your conference. I know Tech says this doesn’t define our seasons, but what does? Beating a third rate Clemson team. I don’t know I think you have big problems. The ACC is weak, Tech is weak. Glory Glory to Old Georgia!
Oh yeah the real national championship will be played in the Georgia Dome on December 5th, when the #1 and #2 teams play. Long live the SEC!
GT Joe
November 29th, 2009
12:46 am
Good news for Tech fans: Willie MARTINEZ gets contract extension because of the awesome defense played tonight.
Ratings Game
November 29th, 2009
12:46 am
And that is why Georgia will never win a championship, their coaches and fans are happy winning 7 games.
mwb
November 29th, 2009
12:46 am
People continue to say Tech got schooled with a 2nd string scrub QB in the first half and a 6 point game in the end. Schooled??????????
builder dawg
November 29th, 2009
12:47 am
Boy oh boy, we sure just dropped a big ol TURD right in your punchbowl techies and your acc title game,WHAT A JOKE!!!! enjoy the flavor of that turd flavored punch, you should be used to it by now,
P'cola Dawg
November 29th, 2009
12:47 am
For the last year all I’ve heard is 45-42, the Tech mantra. I guess Tech’s new mantra is 24-30. Go Dawgs!!!
Cuz
November 29th, 2009
12:47 am
Jeff, this is what columns are made of. If all games went as the number say they should there would be no Pulitzers fallling from the skys.
JJ
November 29th, 2009
12:47 am
Two free hotdogs and two free cokes when you purchase tickets to the ACC championship game! I’m there!
Right On Time
November 29th, 2009
12:47 am
GT Joe…
Who is the dummy? Top 10? R U KIDDING????
DawgsCRUSHJackets
November 29th, 2009
12:47 am
GT Joe, After tomorrow you will be lucking to be in the Top 20. LOL Ga. Tech in the 2000’s once 23, once 17
UGA, 2, 3, 7 twice, 13, 10 twice.
When you lose to a mid tier team like UGA, Tech will fall from 7 to 17, LOLOLOL
2N4YEARS
November 29th, 2009
12:47 am
ACC vs SEC
South Carolina 34-17 over Clemson (Co-ACC Champion)
Florida over Florida State 37-10
Georgia over GaTech 30-24 (Co-ACC Champiion)
Wow. That ACC Conference sure is Great!! LOL
Enjoy the Rings boys!!!!!! 1 in 9 ….you deserve them.
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CR0N
November 29th, 2009
12:47 am
Clemson losses to SC, GA Teach loses to UGA: ACC Champ=4th place SEC. No more top 10 and no more bragging rights. Nice catch #8!!!
SAV DAWG
November 29th, 2009
12:47 am
Who is UGA’s Bitch now ? Oh , that would be tech.
Way to go Dawgs !
hi-oh
November 29th, 2009
12:47 am
I’m not gonna lie, it does feel really good to have Schultz eat his words after spending all year trashing UGA and praising Tech.
Johnny DangerDawg
November 29th, 2009
12:47 am
Jeff,
I believe you said Paul Johnson was the best play caller in the college football. What do you think if his decision to throw the ball 4 times on Tech’s final offensive series?
GT is a 4th rate high school team
November 29th, 2009
12:48 am
GT IS DEFINITELY TOP 10 4TH RATE HIGH SCHOOL TEAM
JJ
November 29th, 2009
12:48 am
He sayeth: “…and all was right in the world again.”
Tron5000
November 29th, 2009
12:48 am
GT Joe, don’t talk about who UGA has to play next weekend. They beat us tonight. That’s all that matters. We lost. We can talk to Clemson fans about next weekend, but we lost tonight. In a pitiful manner.
DawgsCRUSHJackets
November 29th, 2009
12:48 am
Word just in>>>>> Willie Martinez fired at UGA, accepts Defensive Coordinator position at Ga. Tech.
theTruth
November 29th, 2009
12:48 am
GTJ, CWM will be announcing his resignation this upcoming week. I actually felt bad for him at the end of the game. They showed him after that 4th down play and he was crying. God bless you CWM and bulldog nation wishes you nothing but the best.
GT Joe
November 29th, 2009
12:49 am
True, losing to the lowly puppies might drop us out of the top 10. Still in the hunt for a conference title and bcs bowl though. You guys are in the hunt for either papa johns or music city. Congrats on a great season.
Lawdog
November 29th, 2009
12:49 am
30-24. Suck on THAT for a year, St. Simons.
Confused
November 29th, 2009
12:49 am
It must be really sad to have to live vicariously through other teams in your conference that are dominant in order to claim conference superiority. Sure, Alabama and Florida are dominant, but how does that make the other ten teams in the SEC great?
In reality, the SEC is no stronger of a conference than any other. As a matter of fact, the SEC only placed one team in the Top 20 on last week’s SOS rankings from Sagarin, with the Pac 10 and ACC placing more than half a dozen each. The SEC’s team was Mississippi State. Alabama and Florida were ranked in the 50s/60s.
JJ
November 29th, 2009
12:49 am
He sayeth: “And it shall eat at your soul for the next 365 days.”
Right On Time
November 29th, 2009
12:49 am
GT Joe…Football will NEVER change in this state. You will ALWAYS be 2nd…maybe 3rd when GaState starts.
GTFAN
November 29th, 2009
12:49 am
WOW what a game !
yello and scared
November 29th, 2009
12:50 am
not happy winning 7 but happy beating pansies…like the piss ants of the Atlanta projects!
Uno-Ocho
November 29th, 2009
12:50 am
30-24 HAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!!
Maybe the Haji and the rest of the nerd herd can celebrate after seven more years!!
Tech sucks!
Georgia Tech Virgin
November 29th, 2009
12:50 am
Is it over yet? Can I come out now?
My downpart is really getting thrashed tonight…
GTFAN
November 29th, 2009
12:50 am
I can’t beleive we lost to UGA again.
theTruth
November 29th, 2009
12:50 am
GTJ, I actually gave you credit for a good season and that is your response? This is your best season since 90. Enjoy.
Duke
November 29th, 2009
12:50 am
30-24 St. Simons….you can bite it!!!!
better, smarter, faster
November 29th, 2009
12:50 am
this is U[sic]GA’s season. this is their life. GT will wake up, a bit pi$$ed off, a bit anxious to get revenge next week, and return to our patents, grants, and otherwise plausible lives. U[sic]GA will continue to live their simple lives defined by college football, waffles, moonshine, and banjos.