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
SatillaDawg
November 29th, 2009
1:19 am
Hey, Saint Cryin’ Cause He’s Dyin’…
I hear Gnat’s Landing is having baked bumblebee ala commode for Sunday brunch.
Don’t miss it! It’s only $30.24 a plate!
Go DAWGS! Glory, Glory to Old Georgia!
Duke
November 29th, 2009
1:19 am
Turnitup, there is some evidence that attractive people enjoy greater success in many areas of life…..Mark Richt is a nice looking man….30-24!!! Saint Simons can bite it!!!!
Right On Time
November 29th, 2009
1:20 am
Bigger fish? Meaning the team that just got run by one of only 7 teams we beat this year? That fish? The ACC game…that fish? ANYTIME you beat UGA is the biggets win of your year. It is akin to Haleys Comet!
Dawg '88
November 29th, 2009
1:20 am
GT Joe…the BCS Standings is the best argument you can make for being better? Really….the BCS can’t spell its own name let alone name the best teams. By the way…watch that ranking tumble like a huge landslide buddy. Your great team just got beat by a UGA team that struggled all year. That’s 2 times in the past 4 years that a ranked Yech team lost to UGA. Your best teams are not as good as our poorest…that speaks volumes! Caleb right , Washayn left over and over and you couldn’t stop it. 8 out of 9 baby…long ride to Tampa to play for a title that means nothing to anyone…there will be no more than 30,000 fans there and that will be mostly Clemson fans. Go Tigers!
GT is a 4th rate high school team
November 29th, 2009
1:20 am
GT IS UNDERRRRRATED HIGH SCHOOL TEAM.
Dawg Fan
November 29th, 2009
1:20 am
So Jeff, when can we expect to read your articles that talk about how it turns out Richt is still the best coach in the state, and that you were wrong in assuming one win by Tech per decade means that Tech is the new power in the state?
DawgsCRUSHJackets
November 29th, 2009
1:20 am
GT Joe, yes we had a horrible season but still good enough to best Tech.
UGA Rules
November 29th, 2009
1:20 am
Schultz is a pud! Just like the Geeks we played tonight! Hence, why you see nothing but his shoestrings hangin’ outta their rears most of the time!
45ACP
November 29th, 2009
1:20 am
W Ealey 20 rush 183 yards 9.2 average
C King 18 rush 166 yards 9.2 average
dirty
November 29th, 2009
1:20 am
No Indeffance we
dont piss on our selves we piss on gnats. HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA
All Year Long
November 29th, 2009
1:20 am
Let’s see…
This game didn’t matter ’cause Tech is still going to play for the Conference Championship and UGAY isn’t. – No problem, the real ACC Championship game was played way back on Sept 12. UGA beat South Carolina 41 – 37. Next Saturday’s consolation game features Tech & Clemson.
UGAY fans are a bunch of meanies for posting the score on the AJC message boards. – For some reason it’s different when Tech fans do the same thing for a whole year after winning 1 of the last 8…er, 9!
UGAY, UGAY, UGAY! – That makes me feel like a powerful and attractive man when I put that Y at the end of UGA.
Oh, one more thing: ((((((((((30-24)))))))))HAHAHAHAHAHAHHAHAHHHAAHAH
Dave from GT
November 29th, 2009
1:20 am
So Duke, you’re into “nice looking men” ???
You sound like a true buttsniffer.
GT Joe
November 29th, 2009
1:21 am
Hey but seriously, how many more games will UGAy need to win to get into a BCS bowl game this season? Oh wait, nevermind.
Right On Time
November 29th, 2009
1:21 am
GT Joe…
You ran to the ACC because you coule not handle the big dogs. Congrats on your coastal. Will you get rings?
joey gt
November 29th, 2009
1:21 am
gdawg2004 you are such a idiot , fans like you are the reason why tech hates ga guts. i have to give credit to the buuldagws they played better than us and deserved to win the game but in no way did ga dominate gt as bad as our defense played will still has achance to beat yall and our most dependable player drops a 1st down pass that would have extended the drive and pretty much we would have marched down the field and won but…. as big a tech fan as i am i respect ga coach richt and what type of program he runs its the terrible fans that ga has that makes me hate ga so much. one week thay love ga and the next week they say fire coach richt most ga fans probaly dont know much about foot ball. but lets be optimisitic here we are 10-2 and have clemson left to acheive a huge goal for us to win the acc championship. tech has never lost 2 in a row under coach johnson and next week it will not happen good teams dont lose 2 in a row .
go tech proud of the season we had
Right On Time
November 29th, 2009
1:22 am
It’s so cute your excited about the BCS…that is…if clempsun doesnt also beat your ears off.
DawgsCRUSHJackets
November 29th, 2009
1:22 am
GT Joe, How many BCS games has Tech been too? 0 and it will stay that way.
How many for UGA…..3 and more to come.
LOL
45ACP
November 29th, 2009
1:22 am
What you gonna do when the Dawgs run wild on you?
dirty
November 29th, 2009
1:23 am
INDIFFFERENT
Duke
November 29th, 2009
1:23 am
Dwyer, D. Thomas, M. Burnett, and D. Morgan will all enter the NFL Draft….Tech will suck next year…..30-24!!!!! Saint Simons can suck it!!!!!!
Mikey T
November 29th, 2009
1:23 am
Wow dave from GT, I respect you more than any other tech fan right now. I apologize for your loss tonight buddy. Better luck next year, I felt your pain last year when I went to the game
GT Joe
November 29th, 2009
1:23 am
Oh so now the BCS Rankings are irrelevant. But just a few minutes ago you were yapping about all 3 of those BCs bowls you went to. cant have it both ways.
Cuz
November 29th, 2009
1:23 am
GT for you and me, and all the other Tech fans that are still here, maybe two. I will be pulling for you guys next weekend. I said it before the game, I said it during. I have not changed my mind. I am trying to exorcise the demons inflicted on me by m, yellow fuzz and st simons. Not Ramble, he and I are buds. But the other three deserve everything they get. Sorry, you got caught in the crossfire.
Now this is Funny....
November 29th, 2009
1:23 am
GT Joe
November 29th, 2009
12:39 am
Nice win, but as PJ says, this game doesn’t define our season. It did last year, because we had that streak on our back. This year, we’re about winning championships. UGA game was big last year, but this year, not nearly as important.
After last year, PJ said “we haven’t won anything yet”. He’s talking championships, the UGA game is nice, but we want conference titles and maybe more.
Again nice win, it made your season. It doesn’t kill our season though. That’s how football has changed in this state
YOU AND CPJ KEEP THINKING THIS GAME DOESN’T DEFINE YOUR SEASON. JUST ONE YEAR AGO YOU HAD FREAKING RINGS MADE FOR WINNING THE GAME, BUT NOW IT DOESN’T MATTER. KEEP TELLING YOURSELVES THAT!!!!
30-24 STILL HURTS AND YOU KNOW IT!!!!
bugsquacher
November 29th, 2009
1:24 am
hey gt joe, the best team did win!
GT is a 4th rate high school team
November 29th, 2009
1:24 am
BCS DISQUALIFIES GT FROM ANY RELEVANT BOWL GAMES TO AVOID FURTHER INSULT.
Dawg '88
November 29th, 2009
1:24 am
Joe the point is if Yech was in the SEC…you would be less than 7-5…more like 4-8 or 3-9. The ACC Sucks when its so called top 2 teams lose to such teams as pitiful SCU and UGA….LOL! A bad year at UGA is great year at Yech. 10-2…good season but no “ring” to it this year!
HAHAHHAHHAHHAHAHAHH
DawgsCRUSHJackets
November 29th, 2009
1:24 am
GT and Joey, You are going to lost to Clemson. LOL
russ owns cpj
November 29th, 2009
1:24 am
I’m a ramblin wreck from blah blah blah and blah blah blah blah blah blah. Well…. at least they work at McDonalds………… blah blah blah. I am going to make me georgia tech grad of a subordinate wash the tiolets for 8 hours at work tomorrow!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
DawgsCRUSHJackets
November 29th, 2009
1:25 am
LOL. Clemson has how many more wins than UGA and is going to the ACC Championship? 1 lol
Right On Time
November 29th, 2009
1:25 am
For your best interest lets not discuss conferences or history or tradition or the series or the schedules or the BCS, etc. Lets discuss THIS year. So…how did YOU enjoy the game?
murfdawg
November 29th, 2009
1:25 am
Jeff,
when you get a chance to talk with Paul Johnson, could you ask him why the Georgia game was so important last year that he took the players bowl money and had rings made for them, but this year it was just another game.
p.s. What time does the fish fry start in Tampa?
Duke
November 29th, 2009
1:25 am
Turntup, Dave from GT, Saint Simons, and Paul Johnson all look like trolls….it’s ok….accept it…UGA Campus = Land of the Beautiful People…I’m sure you have other fine attributes…..30-24!!!!!
DawgsCRUSHJackets
November 29th, 2009
1:26 am
ACC Another Careless Conference. What a joke.
bugsquacher
November 29th, 2009
1:26 am
hey saint simons, 30-24, get used to it, we have 364 days to go!
pdawg
November 29th, 2009
1:26 am
Shultz I know this is just killing you. But take a deep break and let it sink in. 30-24. The greatest coach to ever walk the sidelines per the AJC just laid a big fat geeky egg. You have some more time to produce a better article. Lets not talk about the Tech loss. Lets talk about how UGA had no chance and had no buisness even showing up to play the mighty Paul Johnson. How dare that idiot Richt show up. In your freaking face Shultz and AJC. Taste it and savor it.
GT Joe
November 29th, 2009
1:26 am
I wonder if people wil still care about this game after we win the Orange Bowl, playing someone legit like TCU? Or maybe UGA-duke will be more important in Nashville?
GT For You And Me
November 29th, 2009
1:27 am
joey gt: Your right,but we still love our Jackets. We will be back. GO Jackets!!!!!
Joy Simonton & Tom Hollis
November 29th, 2009
1:27 am
The ACC should do the honorable thing and let Georgia and SC play for the conference championship. It would be a fun way for us to celebrate our engagement as well!
45ACP
November 29th, 2009
1:27 am
GT JOE – You LOST to a team ranked 54th or 47th or something.
Clemson lost to a team ranked 69th or 87th or something.
Enjoy the ACC championship Game. Tainted as it is.
Right On Time
November 29th, 2009
1:27 am
I wasn’t yapping about the BCS.
I will bust your bubble….like Richt busted LUMPY Johnsons.
jarvis
November 29th, 2009
1:27 am
The real shame here is that Boise State will be left out in the cold while Clemson or GT get to go to the Orange Bowl.
This system just screwed another good team.
Dave from GT
November 29th, 2009
1:28 am
Duke, ….. just one little change…. and Puke!
Hope you make it another year.
bugsquacher
November 29th, 2009
1:28 am
HEY TECH……. THIRTY TO TWENTY-FOUR…..
SHUT THE HELL UP! TO HELL WITH GEORGIA TECH!
DawgsCRUSHJackets
November 29th, 2009
1:28 am
TCU will KILL Tech and so would Boise State. Enjoy your one season Tech, that is if you make it to a BCS game. I so doubt you will. Call and let us know, the rest of the country will be watching the real conference championship the SEC.
GT Joe
November 29th, 2009
1:28 am
45ACP, like I said, the best team doesn’t always win. Esp. rivalry games.
Duke
November 29th, 2009
1:29 am
ACC = Absolutely Crappy Conference……30-24!!!!!
Cuz
November 29th, 2009
1:29 am
Joe, you are buzzing around the wrong hive. You sound just as lame as all our posters that said they were 7-1. Dude you lost. Get used to the abuse. You can thank m, yellow fuzz and st simons. You can take that Orange bowl and stuff it up your abdomen. It does not mean anything now. Your team lost the one game, besides the championship, they could not afford to lose. UGA never lost to Tech and went to the SEC championship game. Your team just lost their identity. Will you post the score of this game on your ACC championship rings? Your team is now the tenth best in the SEC. Deal with it.
Right On Time
November 29th, 2009
1:29 am
Yech and TCU? Are you kidding me????? The Orange bowl team is looking for rope right now. Yech or clempson.;;lose lose…. by the way Yeach will lose. TCU would blow your doors too.
Cuz
November 29th, 2009
1:30 am
first one eighth. Yeah baby…………….