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.
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
1,802 comments Add your comment
Mikey T
November 29th, 2009
1:00 am
For all the Tech fans that say they would rather beat Clemson than UGA are obviously not Tech fans. Have you guys ever been to a Tech game at Bobby Dodd? That’s all they do is flash screenshots of the Tech win last year in their pregame warm ups. And the entire crowd goes ballistic. At the Wake forest game I went to this year(free tickets) they brought out Navy and Airforce pilots with “Beat The Dawgs” written on a shirt they flashed under their uniform’s at the Halftime show.
Gimme a break, that’s what’s so pathetic with Georgia Tech, their fans pretty much only care about beating UGA, hence the “45-42″ spamming posts’ by everyone for the last 365 days, but when UGA wins it’s all about the ACC Championship now right? Nice BS guys, you’re all pathetic.
I can’t wait til Clemson watches tonight’s video of how to own your team, and then when you lose to them and get sent to the Chick-Fil-A bowl vs LSU again, you will once again get owned by giving a good coach like Les Miles three weeks to prepare for your oh-so-predictable offense.
Run right, run left, pitch left, pitch right, throw a bomb to my outstanding receiver Demarious Thomas and watch him overpower small defenders and repeat. Yeah, that’s Tech’s offense. Paul Johnson and Tech are overated.
DawgsCRUSHJackets
November 29th, 2009
1:00 am
GT Joe, Enjoy your one year, you are going to need something as the years go by. UGA will be back, but Tech, HA! In our worst year we beat you in your best!!
Hey, there went King and Ealey. Still Running!
GT is a 4th rate high school team
November 29th, 2009
1:00 am
HAHAHAHAHAHA FOREVER
Reggie Ball
November 29th, 2009
1:00 am
all I needed was another down
jpaul
November 29th, 2009
1:00 am
PJ– take your high school offense back to “high school”
theTruth
November 29th, 2009
1:00 am
Joe, you just explained EVERY season under Richt versus GT except this one.
Reality
November 29th, 2009
1:00 am
The reason UGAY beat Tech…… our defense is too small. When we recruit bigger guys that can push back on those 300+ pounders, watch out. We have the skill, we have the coaching, we have the speed, the only thing missing is the mass.
Helluva Engineer
November 29th, 2009
1:01 am
U[sic]GA fans are all class on forum, eh? Way to win with grace!
SiddyBoy
November 29th, 2009
1:01 am
#7 in the nation but # 2 in the state !!!
Furry Foreigner
November 29th, 2009
1:01 am
GT Joe – All your bloviating will not change the score of tonights game, or the fact we have now dismantled you 8 out of the last 9 years. UGA is a one legged mutt and yet we still ran over you.
Here’s something to chew on. Paul Johnson your rocket scientist head coach had the ball in UGA territory with 1:52 to go and he decides to throw 3 long balls instead of doing what you do best. Now how smart is that? I’d say it’s brain damaged.
30-24 HaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaHaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaHaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa!
Right On Time
November 29th, 2009
1:01 am
GT Joe:
I’m not talking NC’s. I’m talking THIS year…or the last 8 or the last 18, whatever.
Reggie Ball
November 29th, 2009
1:01 am
Russ ran all over Buzz tonight…then pissed on him
macrotech
November 29th, 2009
1:02 am
Congrats to the Dawgs….played a great game and executed flawlessly! However, it’s tough to believe that you guys don’t consider us a rivalry….just look at all the dawgs that have come out of the cracks….it’s cool; braggin’ rights are yours! I’m STILL proud to be a Yellow Jacket and look forward to playing next week in the ACCCG! Let’s rebound and win out the season!!! GO TECH!!!
DawgsCRUSHJackets
November 29th, 2009
1:02 am
Tech had the score from last years win inscribed on their rings as Co Coastal Conference Champs. ANother joke. And they say they don’t care. LOL
bake
November 29th, 2009
1:02 am
techie on the coast…you’re a sore loser. holding and blocks in the back? sounds like what you typically hear from a tech opponent. and i love the elitist attitude from david. fyi…UGA grads occupy more high position jobs ($100,000+) than any school in the southeast. get a grip. GO DAWGS!!! that acc option BS isn’t worth a damn!!!
President of ACC.....
November 29th, 2009
1:02 am
I officially announce the title game has been cancelled
2N4YEARS
November 29th, 2009
1:02 am
Going to a rivalry game: $300
Winning the rivalry game: Bragging rights for (another) year
Running the ball down the throat of the nations ‘best’ running team: PRICELESS
Right On Time
November 29th, 2009
1:02 am
Helluva:
We have been getting crap for a year from your buddies…now buckle your chin strap for a long year.
Yellow Fuzzy
November 29th, 2009
1:03 am
Hey we won the game virtually in my simulation? What really happened?
GT is a 4th rate high school team
November 29th, 2009
1:03 am
REGGIE BALL DE JA VU, HAHAHAHAHAHAHA FOREVER
uga all the way
November 29th, 2009
1:03 am
GT Joe, I love you standing up for your team. You are right you guys had a great year, but you lost to a mediocre UGA team and will play an unranked Clemson team, who lost to USC in the ACC championship. Do you think your better record and higher ranking has something to do with how weak the ACC is? 1 win against UGA last year doesn’t mean Tech is suddenly a world beater it just means you got lucky. Go home, lick your wounds and get ready for Clemson. A loss to them really would define your season. TECH IS A JOKE!
Dawg '88
November 29th, 2009
1:03 am
Hey saint simons….”Back to life…Back to Reality…”
LOL!
30-24!!! HAHAHAHAHAAAHHAHHAHAHAHAHAHAHHAAHA
Jason
November 29th, 2009
1:04 am
Sux, Hate GA but we are still 2 of 3 of the SEC. What the heck are we passing 4 straight times to end the game! Go ahead GA, celebrate, you are still 7-5!
Saint UGAVII
November 29th, 2009
1:04 am
Just a reminder…ACC Champ = SEC East #4…hahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahaha
DawgsCRUSHJackets
November 29th, 2009
1:04 am
Just in…….Tampa decides along with ABC to not have the ACC Championship. They instead will have a Brady Bunch Reunion festival and carry it on ABC.
Big Five
November 29th, 2009
1:04 am
Hey techie on the coast. Calls were missed on both sides. Don’blame the refs. It only makes you look sour=asyou should be.
HM
November 29th, 2009
1:04 am
St. Simons, will you please let me know today’s final UGA/GT score? I didn’t think they would actually need to play this game.
Right On Time
November 29th, 2009
1:05 am
You yechies have made fun of our Uga, made fun of our team, made fun of our coach, made fun of our players…yet, AGAIN you lose.
Pop Tarts National Champions '90
November 29th, 2009
1:05 am
Any truth to the rumor that they’re going to move the ACC Championship game to…
SAINT SIMONS island?!?
DawgsCRUSHJackets
November 29th, 2009
1:05 am
Ga Tech will end the year with 3 straight losses, just wait and see.
GT is a 4th rate high school team
November 29th, 2009
1:05 am
BCS COMPUTER ERACES GT FROM RANKINGS. HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA FOREVER
GT Joe
November 29th, 2009
1:05 am
Cox is pretty good when he hands off…
Dave from GT
November 29th, 2009
1:05 am
REALITY – quit sounding like a bonehead. ACC refs suck too! Reverse a TD on what “irrefutable” evidence? And SEC ref, why the hell did you call it a touchdown, when you couldn’t see the ball.
The only time the refs bent the game was when they tackled the GA runner.
Face it, GT thinks winning the ACC is more important! CPJ better wake up on this one! Would have though he should have known – BEAT Georgia! This is more important that all that other crap !
An ACC championship without beating GA, what nonsense!
This game has become way too much about money, and these coaches sound like politician losers!
It’s simple, beat GA, then win the ACC. Frankly, I wish GT never got into the ACC…. should have gone Big East. I think VT and Miami would concur.
So, to bring things into focus… beat GA, win ACC. Anything else is not complete. So even if GT wins the ACC…..
As if 2009 did not suck enough!
Reality 30-24
November 29th, 2009
1:05 am
By the time Georgia Tech recruits bigger DL, UGA will have replaced its crappy DC. Advantage UGA.
PS – 30-24
Order restored, all is normal in the state of Georgia. Did I mention 30-24 yet?
Reality
November 29th, 2009
1:05 am
Mikey T and other UGAY folks…… Tonight, before the game, I was a bit horrified that Paul Johnson and the Tech players were asking Tech fans to be good hosts….. to not engage in BS with ugay fans….. to be proud and to win with honor and lose with honor. I was horrified because I KNEW that any of that would be lost on the dumba$$ ugay fans.
And, I am sad to say, that the ugay fans proved me right. You guys are the worst winners and losers ever – right up there with LSU and FSU.
So – you guys go on to Nashville, or whatever.com bowl your sorry record allows you to play. We will go on to the conference championship game and then hopefully to the Orange Bowl – you know – the BCS?
Don’t be a hater! Cheer Tech on!
Dawg since 1965
November 29th, 2009
1:05 am
Let’s see…… UGA 30 tech 24, st simons?? M?? where are you??
SC 34 Clemson 17??? ACCCG = lost to the #5 and #6 SEC teams. Does that mean UGA and SC are 1 and 2 in the ACC? = ACC must be weak. Tech did beat missy state and vandy. WOW those wins are looking big now aren’t they.
uga all the way
November 29th, 2009
1:05 am
First thing monday morning I am going to hire a TECH grad!
Then I will fire him on Friday after I have gotten rid of the pain from this season!
GO DAWGS!
GT For You And Me
November 29th, 2009
1:06 am
Good win for you Dawg’s………
All Year Long
November 29th, 2009
1:06 am
((((((((((30-24)))))))))HAHAHAHAHAHAHHAHAHHHAAHAH
Two faced dawgs
November 29th, 2009
1:06 am
You guys won but as fans you are so full of it. Look at your own trash from 3 days ago about how Richt sucks and you were gonna get killed. Grow up
Right On Time
November 29th, 2009
1:06 am
Jason…
Yep 7 and 5…and STILL kicked your tail. How may yards did the “perfect option” have?
Helluva Engineer
November 29th, 2009
1:07 am
RightOnTime…. while this game will sting for a bit, football does not mean 0.001% to Tech fans as UGA fans. This outcome was an efficient allocation of resources… Tech fans will celebrate their own achievements whereas UGA will piggyback on 21 year old thugs.
uga all the way
November 29th, 2009
1:07 am
Yeah we know the BCS, three times we’ve been. We’re tight with the BCS.
DawgsCRUSHJackets
November 29th, 2009
1:07 am
Reality, DO you still have those hedges from last year. Do you have a ring with the score from last years game. The only thing Tech did for us tonight was to get mugged so we wouldn’t have to.
Oppps there goes King and Ealey again.
gdawgz2004
November 29th, 2009
1:07 am
AND TO THINK BACK ABOUT ALL THE SMACK TALK THAT GEORGIA TECH FANS DID THIS SEASON! BOOOOO YAAAA! GO DAWGS! HOPEFULLY THIS IS A SIGN THAT THE JUNKYARD DEFENSE HAS RETURNED! TECHS NEXT WIN IN THIS SERIES IS SCHEDULED FOR 2017! LOL!!!!! THEY ONLY WIN ONCE EVERY EIGHT YEARS
Cuz
November 29th, 2009
1:07 am
Skybox last weekend with a loss. My living room this weekend with a win and no more St. Simons. The hell with the skybox, this was better.
Colorado Buffalos the REAL 1990 National Champion
November 29th, 2009
1:08 am
GTU is and always will be the Dawgs b*tch. HAHAHAA
Orkin Man
November 29th, 2009
1:08 am
Why won’t you show my posts? I do not cuss or otherwise abuse this forum. Are you a bug?
DAWG FAN
November 29th, 2009
1:08 am
Tech Sucks!!!!!
ACC Joke
November 29th, 2009
1:08 am
Well you girls laid another egg didn’t you? Well at least “laid” was in there somewhere because you geeks will not be laid any other way until next year.