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
Bob Unger
November 28th, 2009
11:47 pm
JUST FOR SAINT SIMONS Dawgs 30, Bugs 24……8 of 9…. and hoefully you’ll lose next week and miss out on the BCS……enjoy…….
hahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahaahahahahaha!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Jeauxseph
November 28th, 2009
11:47 pm
Come on Saint Simons. You’ve been mouthing off on the UGA blog all year. Now get over there and prepare to indulge on the large plate of Crow you have been preparing all year. Or, you can sit over here when times get sticky and talk to all of your buddies. Weak. Georgia Tech is a better program and a better fan base than you represent.
Woof, woof, woof
November 28th, 2009
11:47 pm
I wonder if Tech will get rings with tonight’s score engraved on the side?
F U Saint Simons
November 28th, 2009
11:47 pm
Where are all the loud mouth Techies now????? Take it like men you whimps.
DawgGirl32
November 28th, 2009
11:48 pm
30-24 hahahahahahahha
Jekyll Isle
November 28th, 2009
11:48 pm
30-24 ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha
blueheaD
November 28th, 2009
11:48 pm
This is too great, stupid ACC.
Overrated
Overrated
Overrated
Overrated
Bama Dawg
November 28th, 2009
11:48 pm
Hey Tech, have fun next Saturday and the SEC runner up bowl – losers!
bluecole
November 28th, 2009
11:48 pm
Hey, guess what? You get to keep Martinez! WHEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE!!!!!
John
November 28th, 2009
11:48 pm
Wow, way to make excuses there techie on the coast. I knew it would only be a matter of time before the excuses started flying. Want to know the real reason why Teck got destroyed tonight? Because the best rushing attack in the state isn’t in atlanta, it’s in Athens. Everyone saw tonight why THE University of Georgia chose Caleb King over Jonathan Dwyer. Because King shows up to the big games, Dwyer takes the night off.
Floze
November 28th, 2009
11:48 pm
It seems as though all is right with the world – once again. The tri-lambs need to know their place.
Saint Simons
November 28th, 2009
11:48 pm
(((((45-42))))) hahahahaha
MFM
November 28th, 2009
11:48 pm
Nerds, NERds, NERDS….you’re all a bunch of losers…HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAH 30-24
30-24, 30-24….you dropped your balls NERDS
45ACP
November 28th, 2009
11:48 pm
You guys have been pounding the Dawg blogs all year.
Put up or shut up. We have bragging rights again.
UGA Rolls Over Tech
November 28th, 2009
11:48 pm
To Mr. Schultz & Mr. Bradley,
I can’t thank you enough for all of your posts about this game, saying that Tech would roll over Georgia, and etc. It is bloggers like you guys that motivate the UGA Players, Coaches, and Fans to do their best and show you guys what is what. I guess I will have to wait until Baseball season to read your blogs about the Braves, since that is something we can seem to agree on! Until then, GO DAWGS!
Bama Dawg
November 28th, 2009
11:48 pm
Hey Tech, have fun next Saturday at the SEC runner up bowl – losers!
Fools Gold
November 28th, 2009
11:48 pm
Georgia’s fixing to fall?
But speaking just for me
and some people from AJC,
we got a thing or two to tell you all.
This Dawg may have stumbled
but he ain’t never fell.
And if the Techies don’t believe that
they can all go straight to hell.
We’re gonna put UGA on its feet
on the path of the another streak
and then God bless Georgia again.
And you never did think that it ever would happen again.
In Georgia, did you?
You never did think that we’d ever get together again.
Well we damn sure fooled you.
We’re walking real proud and we’re talking real loud again
In Georgia.
You never did think that it ever would happen again.
And we may have done a little bit of fighting amongst ourselves,
but you outside people best leave us alone.
Cause we’ll all stick together
and you can take that to the bank.
That’s the Gators and the Jackets and the rebels and the yanks.
You just go and lay your hand on a Georgia Bulldog fan
and I think you’re gonna finally understand.
And you never did think that it ever would happen again.
In Georgia, did you?
You never did think that we’d ever get together again.
Well we damn sure fooled you.
We’re walking real proud and we’re talking real loud again
In Georgia.
You never did think that it ever would happen again.
Paul The Vol
November 28th, 2009
11:48 pm
The two ACC division champions lost to the 4th and 5th place SEC East teams today and FSU is lucky that Florida took their foot off the gas. So STFU about ACC and Georgia Tech dominance in football. The SEC is not overrated, it is the very definition of big time, big boy college football.
dd
November 28th, 2009
11:48 pm
UGA 339 yards rushing
Shouldn’t an option team be able to stop the run?
Where’s saint simons?
30-24 hahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahaha
reddog
November 28th, 2009
11:49 pm
Well baby jackets at least you know how this feels, hope you enjoyed the last year b/c we just beat you at your own game. 30-24!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Guess we won’t be seeing you on the blogs or the UGA stories for awhile! Go Clemson!!!! 34-24!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! So much for #7 baby jackets!!! Go DAWGS!!!!!!
Saint Simons
November 28th, 2009
11:49 pm
Hey Opinion, when GT loses to Clemson next week, you’ll be playing in Boise Idaho at the humanitarian bowl.
Loser
UGA 30 – GT 24!!!
HAAHAHAHAHAAHA!
Jackette
November 28th, 2009
11:49 pm
not sure why cpj elected to throw the ball there at the end there was time to pick up some first downs on the ground, but never the less, I’m proud of Nesbitt and glad he will be okay. I’m heading to Tampa on Thursday and cannot wait. Thank you Jackets, it has been a great year and hope you pick up two more wins.
techsux
November 28th, 2009
11:49 pm
Fire Paul Johnson NOW!!!
He didn’t think LSU was important, he didn’t think this game was important.
Truth is: we don’t give a crap about winning the ACC…beat georgia…that’s all that matters.
He’s like gailey…he doesn’t get either.
wheresschultzy
November 28th, 2009
11:49 pm
What, this is all you can say? How about, boy was I ever wrong! How about 30-24 and my team lost? Woohoooo!!!!!!! The sky is raining dead yellow jackets – they are falling everywhere, whatchagot Lauren? Larry, its just amazing! The sky is raining dead jackets. The dawgs have set off a big fumigation and the jackets have just crashed and burned!!!! Woohooo!!! Wheresschultzy!!!
Que Dawg
November 28th, 2009
11:50 pm
That state championship win just capped off a very tough year. More importantly, GTech has been humbled and 1 win in the last 9 yrs should keep your mouth shut for the next 365 days. GO DAWGS, Tech sucks!
SOGADAWG
November 28th, 2009
11:50 pm
Jeff, go back and read all those articles you wrote this year declaring the demise of the Dawgs and the dominance of Tech. You slammed UGA in your frequent comparisons of UGA to Tech, and face it, you were wrong. UGA will be OK and Tech will consistently be the lesser football program. There is a definite bias in your paper against UGA. Tech wins one game and you declare UGA’s program a shambles and Tech the finest in the land. My friend, whose articles I sincerely enjoy, you were flat out wrong. And from TyTy to Saint Simons I say, (((((((30-24))))))))hahahahahah!!!!!
dale in newnan
November 28th, 2009
11:50 pm
Enter your comments here
joe cox will be fine
November 28th, 2009
11:50 pm
techies have a nice team.CPJ is great. But if u guy go 4 outa 10, per decade=that will always b good-u cant b a football factory- same boat as notra dame- but u will never suck w CPJ
techie on the coast
November 28th, 2009
11:50 pm
point…..I didn’t notice those but they did’t call those either I would guess
Pay Attention
November 28th, 2009
11:50 pm
Apparently, you learned nothing from the Clem/S Car game earlier. UGA didn’t need to get better. They were missing two key players (the entire game). They just needed to play an ACC team. Meanwhile, you’re waiting for lightning to strike twice.
theTruth
November 28th, 2009
11:50 pm
Uh, DAVID, that is 8 out of 9. I thought you were the math geeks???
Eating Crow for a Year
November 28th, 2009
11:50 pm
30-24 HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAAHHA
GaDawg
November 28th, 2009
11:50 pm
Everything is back in alignment in the universe. UGA 30 Nerds 24
UGAJAG
November 28th, 2009
11:50 pm
….Hey Saint Simon’s suck on 30-24 for the next year!!!….oh and I ALMOST FORGOT 8-1 against you nerds during the Richt era……That is the best stat of all baby!!!
SAINT SIMONS DOES M
November 28th, 2009
11:50 pm
THIS ONE’S GONNA HURT FOR A LONG LONG TIME!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAH
acdawg
November 28th, 2009
11:51 pm
Johsons comments early in the week gave the impression that this game didn’t matter to him…
and the tech players bought into it and they played like it didn’t matter to them either!!
“Tech coach Paul Johnson downplayed the significance of this game earlier in the week… not just bragging rights over big brother from Athens.”
Saint Simons has to get a life
November 28th, 2009
11:51 pm
What will you do with your time for the next year?
Paul H
November 28th, 2009
11:51 pm
Get OWNED, Tech you LOSERS!!!! Where’s “m”????? 0-3 vs. “real” SEC teams today!!! GLAD IT HURTS SO MUCH
max oyler
November 28th, 2009
11:51 pm
Let me get this straight — UGA’s WORST team in the last 10 years just beat Tech’s BEST team of the last 18 years!!!!
I guess that tells you something!!!
AltamahaDawg
November 28th, 2009
11:51 pm
So now if 3 points is an “ass-kicking”, what is a 6 point win?
Tampa called, and wanted the USC/Ga rematch instead of the ACC Irrelevant game.
Can I git a Robot Roll Call??????
lafayettedog
November 28th, 2009
11:51 pm
The ACC needs to do the right thing and forfeit their BCS bowl bid. Their eventual champs just got whipped by the 4th and 5th best teams in the SEC east.
Saint Simons
November 28th, 2009
11:51 pm
.Opinion
November 28th, 2009
11:46 pm
Have fun at the Music City Bowl !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Hey Opinion, after losing next week to Clemson, you’ll be playing on a blue field loser!!
Brunswick
November 28th, 2009
11:51 pm
(((((((((((((((((((30-24))))))))))))))))))))!!!!!!!!!!!
Washaun Ealy is STILL running!!!!!
Bahahaahahahahahahahahahahahahahaha!!!!!!!!
SockDawg
November 28th, 2009
11:51 pm
Hey Tech…why don’t you shut your mouth now and get back in line. Wow…talking about choking!!!
Dennis G. Berdanis
November 28th, 2009
11:51 pm
Where’s all those loudmouth 45-42 jerks we had to listen to all year? Cry baby cry. UGA ups it to 34-12 in the last 46 meetings.
Doug
November 28th, 2009
11:51 pm
There is still something wrong at UGA, and one win over an ACC team ain’t going to change that. We can beat Tech but not Kentucky? Go figure.
BIG D
November 28th, 2009
11:51 pm
This just goes to show that writers are like everyone else.
It’s an opinion. Sometimes they’re right and sometimes they’re wrong, like they were on this game.
Bulldawg 01
November 28th, 2009
11:52 pm
Where are the Techies?? Next time you win, win humbly!! You guys have been talking crap for 365 days!! Now eat some humble crow for the next 365 days!! Richt 8-1.. Without the lame rings!! Wish we could take something from your stadium like you guys did our hedges but your stadium is crappy so we will pass!! LOL
Barkleydawg
November 28th, 2009
11:52 pm
We’re not playing in some loser conference championship, that’s for sure.
theTruth
November 28th, 2009
11:52 pm
SHULTZ, take charge of what? Winning two in a row and you would control a series when you are down by more than twenty games? Reallllly?