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
Scout Dawg
November 29th, 2009
1:39 am
Robot roll call.
buzz
November 29th, 2009
1:39 am
Hats off to the Dawgs. You really took it to us. Enjoy the win. Meanwhile we have a game to play!
The Grinch
November 29th, 2009
1:39 am
attention all tech fans
please be sure to wear sunscreen in tampa. you got your asses burned in atlanta. i’d hate for you to get your faces burned as well.
BWAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!
German Shepherd Dawg
November 29th, 2009
1:39 am
Tech fans – good game, good luck next week. Nice to have order restored.
45ACP
November 29th, 2009
1:39 am
Good game Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets.
Beat Clemson and bring the ACC Championship home to Georgia.
jarvis
November 29th, 2009
1:39 am
If the queen had balls she’d be the king.
DawgGirl32
November 29th, 2009
1:40 am
Soooo Tech fields its best team in the last decade and UGA fields its worst team in the last decade and Tech STILL loses? Look, the truth is, GT could win the ACC Championship and their BCS bowl and nobody would really care.
I think Washaun just scored again.
Will the Tech seniors make rings with this score?
If a 3 point win last year was a “beatdown” as the Techies so pathetically put it, then what was a 6 point win where Tech never led?
It really is great to be a Georgia Bulldawg.
UGA Grad
November 29th, 2009
1:40 am
I can see how GT fans would feel better after reading this blog. Please only post if you are literate. (Especially if you are a UGA fan and not a UGA grad)
GT Joe
November 29th, 2009
1:40 am
Okay dawgscrush. I guess we were better than you in 1982 or whatever when we were 1-10 and beat you guys, eh?
Anything can happen in rivalry games, the best team DOESN:T always win. But enjoy the next 364.
GT Joe SUX
November 29th, 2009
1:40 am
GT Joe
Dang is that the best you got?
You must be hurting really badly right now.
Let me help you out with a laugh, 30-24.
HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA
We don’t care about a bowl game!
We are just happy we beat your ASSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSS!
Duke
November 29th, 2009
1:40 am
Paul Johnson is Willie Martinez’s B*tch!!! 30-24…..
GT For You And Me
November 29th, 2009
1:40 am
Good Morning Jackets! Good Morning Dawg’s Good win for ya.. See ya…. Go Jackets!!!!!!!!!!!
Right On Time
November 29th, 2009
1:40 am
Someone PLEASE help GT Joe.
He is almost like GI Joe except MUCH suckier.
The Grinch
November 29th, 2009
1:40 am
buzz
go ahead and prepare for your game. we’ll prepare for our teams rings. BWAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!
buzz
November 29th, 2009
1:41 am
from a tech fan, at least this will shut up St. Simons !!!!!
horrible
November 29th, 2009
1:42 am
TECH FAN I AM….
nothing to say .. UGA won hopefully i got 60 more games of CLEAN OLD FASHION HATE LEFT…
DawgsCRUSHJackets
November 29th, 2009
1:42 am
GT Joe, you NEVER beat us but once in the 80’s and you weren’t 1-10. We kicked your tail from 80-87.
jarvis
November 29th, 2009
1:42 am
Senators from Utah and Idaho will be watching next week. I expect to see a tape of that game played in part before a sub-comittee next summer.
Right On Time
November 29th, 2009
1:42 am
GT Joe:
Did Richt literaly make Lumpy Johnson shine his shoes?
marseilles mutt
November 29th, 2009
1:42 am
As a Georgia letterman the Tech game means a great deal because it was for me my last game at UGA….and a win. However, as an aside, the majority of us did not hate the Tech players then, nor do most of us- to my knowledge- hate them now.. To those of you who enjoy taking cheap- and anonymous- shots at players and coaches, you will never in this lifetime (unless you were in combat in the service) enjoy the closeness and comradery that comes from playing college football, and I feel for you
Several of my life long best friends played at the flats, and while we gave each other ‘what for’ every year, it was never profane, spiteful nor hateful. My son’s Godfather was one of them, an all SEC and all American performer, who passed on several years ago. Things do not seem the same this time of year without him. I miss him a lot!
Tonight it was a great game to watch, although my ‘pig valve’ almost popped! Way to go Dogs! However, I hope that Tech will rebound, put a huge hurt on ‘Clempson’ next week, AND bring home a victory in their bowl game!
Meanwhile, even up here in the frozen tundra, IT’S GREAT TO BE A GEORGIA BULLDOG!
And lastly,I hope, after today, there won’t be a lot of arguments re the relative strength of the ACC vs the SEC.
Is there an M, or even an M&M in the house?
I hope Baylie enjoyed this one Cuz.
GT Joe
November 29th, 2009
1:43 am
Wow, this IS the biggest game in years for you guys. I thought we were behind FL and Auburn on your wish list, but apparently not.
Right On Time
November 29th, 2009
1:43 am
GT Joe:
I really feel bad for ya…poor little fella.
Duke
November 29th, 2009
1:44 am
Someone post a link to the clip of Paul Johnson after last year’s game telling Tech fans that they were going to “do it again next year.” Humility is a character trait I think he is going to learn in the next couple of years…..he’s read too many of these AJC columns and thinks too highly of himself….he’s done real well with Chan Gailey’s players, but most of the best ones (Dwyer, Burnett, Morgan, and Thomas) will be gone next year when they enter the draft….30-24 and Saint Simons can suck it!!!!
Reggie Ball
November 29th, 2009
1:44 am
No wey Boise beats us…..the blue carpet is our second home as we be playin on it every year.
Right On Time
November 29th, 2009
1:45 am
GT Joe:
Just because yall are Yech and always suck does not mean I don;t enjoy this anual beat down. And by anual, I mean just about every year.
Right On Time
November 29th, 2009
1:45 am
annual?
GT Joe
November 29th, 2009
1:46 am
dont feel bad for us… Competing for a BCS bowl is kinda fun.
Right On Time
November 29th, 2009
1:46 am
GT Joe…I’m about to give up….
it’s like Lumpy Johnson hiding from Richt
David Basham
November 29th, 2009
1:47 am
Actually, GT Joe, winning 30-24 DOES mean that UGA is better than GT. That’s why they play the games, not role-play them on a D&D board or on a Worlds of Warcraft computer sim.
You lost and are back to being the second rate team in the state. Deal with it.
Also, congrats on your win-loss record, but as today proved, you play in a crappy conference where the wins are much easier to come by.
Right On Time
November 29th, 2009
1:47 am
Are you competeing for a BCS? I thought you were GOING to a BCS…
UGA Grad
November 29th, 2009
1:47 am
Well said mutt, reading these comments makes me ashamed to have gone to UGA. I am happy we won but this is not a good season. Congrats UGA. Lets improve so we can do it again next year. Looks like CPJ dropped the ball on the last set of downs. We got lucky. Hopefully this game will not allow CWM to stick around. Congrats all UGA students and grads (actual alums)
BWAHAHA
November 29th, 2009
1:48 am
I HOPE WE MAKE RINGS TO COMMEMORATE THIS WIN!!!!!BWHAHAHAHAHA…BUSINESS AS USUAL ON NORTH AVENUE.
Buzz SUX
November 29th, 2009
1:48 am
SEC Championship is for the National Championship every year.
The ACC Championship has NEVER even produced a team to go to National Championship game.
ACC stick to basketball.
GT Joe
November 29th, 2009
1:48 am
David Basham: I guess Kentucky is better than UGA since they beat you guys, eh?
German Shepherd Dawg
November 29th, 2009
1:48 am
Fellow Dawg Fans,
I hope I’ll see some class going forward and y’all refrain from replicating the brain dead antics of St. Simons and Yellow Fuzz, et. al. If you’re going to post something, make it clever or pithy, but not childish and petulant.
But hey, what do I know? I don’t get the inane rush to be “first” either.
DDDAWG
November 29th, 2009
1:48 am
nothing saint simons can say now will make up for a year of bs coming from that pathetic little insect. 30 -24 hahahahahahahahahahaha!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
i guess we will hear from you in 2015 the next time you beat us. go dawgs!
Cuz
November 29th, 2009
1:48 am
I was asked all week and tonight if I had the balls enough to be on the Tech after game blog. When I said I would be there win or lose, the obnoxious little Tech fans laughed at me, not to be confused by the real Tech fans. Well little men, here I am. And my team has cloaked me in glory. What do you say now. Oh nothing, you do not have the intestinal fortitude, guts to you dumb donkeys, to be on here. Your Moms have made you some warm milk and are cuddling your heads and telling you through your tears that it is only a game.
You like that, I am just getting warmed up.
jarvis
November 29th, 2009
1:49 am
Not a UGA Grad.
GT Joe
November 29th, 2009
1:49 am
Competing and possibly going to a BCS. Neither can be said of UGA.
German Shepherd Dawg
November 29th, 2009
1:49 am
DDDAWG,
Thanks for illustrating my point…
Right On Time
November 29th, 2009
1:49 am
hey UGA grad…If your’re ashamed ship that sheepskin back.
That was not luck. The luck was that yech was even close
UGA rules
November 29th, 2009
1:50 am
OK……my giddiness is fading. LOL….Tech should have won but didn’t! Case closed and I’ll live joyfully for another year! I’m still giggling! At least their mouths will cease!!!!
jarvis
November 29th, 2009
1:50 am
Boise State can’t say that either Joe, but I think they are better than you as well.
tornio's best
November 29th, 2009
1:50 am
cuz, we don’t surround our lives by the success of others. we pave the way to our own success.
Hondo
November 29th, 2009
1:50 am
I almost feel sory for Tech fans, they must suffer for a year for the complete idiots Saint Simons and “m”, but such is life, and you deserve it because you allowed them to to be your be your spokesmen. You look so stupid now. Tech deserves better!
Fierce Dawg
November 29th, 2009
1:51 am
GT Joe, i said i would be back after we beat yo azzez, and here i am!
i am the state champion NOW!
you can take that orange bowl and SHOVE it!
that is, if you can even win next week.
UGA vs USC for the ACC Title!
Scout Dawg
November 29th, 2009
1:51 am
Yeah, bad record SEC, undefeated ACC nerd.
GT For You And Me
November 29th, 2009
1:51 am
One last thing! Don’t ever be ashamed of your team,win or lose. It’s what we live for every yr. Hope you win your bowl game Dawg’s, as I hope my Jackets win their ACC title game!!
Right On Time
November 29th, 2009
1:51 am
GT Joe,
Kentucky was better than UGA this year. AND….AND…AND…UGA was better than yech this year…
GT Joe
November 29th, 2009
1:52 am
boise cant say that cause their schedule includes wyoming, idaho, new mexico, eastern idaho, western idaho, and idaho state.