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
ticklepile
November 29th, 2009
1:35 pm
Come my Tech brethren, let us partake of the losers ceremony and all gather together in the pile of s*it that is our stadium and have the bestest tickle pile ever!
The Grinch
November 29th, 2009
1:35 pm
To GTbill
I didn’t think you guys had to win a bowl game to get a “score” ring. BWAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!! FWIW, I take a size 12 ring.
Reggie Ball
November 29th, 2009
1:36 pm
GT Bill just take our lumps. We are UGA’s bit*h. We will never be as great as UGA. We’ve dropped 5 spots to number 12 thanks to our big brothers. Our season is in little pieces on the sidewalk. Just when we thought we were good we find out we suck. Too bad we don’t get our reality check every year until UGA. We should play them first to keep our expectations in line and prevent us from looking like fools all year. We are the pretenders in the state.
The Grinch
November 29th, 2009
1:36 pm
Oh yeah, 30-24……glad it still hurts. BWAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!
1eyedJack
November 29th, 2009
1:37 pm
This just in!!!!…..Caleb King just scored again….Paul Johnson is after all, human…..Tech once again irrelevant…..Washaun Ealey, another first down…..Tech player down, time out…..Caleb King, untouched, TOUCHDOWN!!!
ORANGE BOWL
November 29th, 2009
1:38 pm
BCS
ORANGE BOWL
(no 7-5 teams allowed)
this game means the world to tech!!!!
November 29th, 2009
1:38 pm
that was my handle yesterday……..jeff shultz should be writing for SESAME STREET..lmfao…1500+ comments on this blog already… the TECH TRASH TALKERS will here it for 364 more days…this one really stings!!!!!!!!!!!!!! but order has been restored in the state of Georgia and Mark Richt in all his class complimented the jackets..sit down little buggies!!!!!
CPJsuperstar
November 29th, 2009
1:39 pm
Say was there a game this week. I’m so busy planning that damned Ashe-she losers championship I forgot all about that other little game. O well it don’t matter none.
BCSlemonbowl
November 29th, 2009
1:40 pm
With losers like Yech or Clemson I’m guessing it won’t be must see TV!
ORANGE BOWL
November 29th, 2009
1:40 pm
GT will finish 12-2 with no problem,
not a mediocre …7-6
The Grinch
November 29th, 2009
1:40 pm
To ORANGE BOWL
30-24…..nuff said. BWAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!!
bawhahahahahha!!!!!
November 29th, 2009
1:41 pm
Tool Nation (more like a community) comes crashing down!! LOVE IT!!!!!
this game means the world to tech!!!!
November 29th, 2009
1:41 pm
A better 6 and 5 team beat a Sorry 10 and 2 team, a 10 and 2 team that will lose to Clemson, then lose again in a bowl game….welcome back to a 4 loss season…nerdo flagboys!!! lmfao
pantyraid
November 29th, 2009
1:41 pm
Lets grab St. Simons, yellowfuzz, M and the rest and lets all stage a raid. My mom’s not home so we can get all her good stuff.
The Grinch
November 29th, 2009
1:41 pm
CPJ is such an offensive genius that he couldn’t devise a plan to defeat a Martinez coached defense. BWAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!!
Mayretta_Dawg
November 29th, 2009
1:41 pm
I am laughing out loud at all the Tech fans talking about how Yuck is such an elite shool for academics as an excuse for losing. Are you kidding me??!! Have you ever heard Joe Hamilton speak or Reggie “can’t count to 4″ Ball as some of your great “student athletes??!! I mean, it’s only a game dog as Mr. Ball would say…. GT has the BIGGEST bandwagoning fanbase and it was displayed all year with the brand new sweater vests and crisp flags flying high on all vehicles.
Welcome back to reality Techies and we look forward to beating your next coach because CPJ has been figured out by LSU, Miami, and now the Dawgs. Soon other defenses will replicate those efforts and Tech will be begging for the Gailey years…
this game means the world to tech!!!!
November 29th, 2009
1:42 pm
does GA. now play south carolina for the ACC championship..laughing my f..in a ..offffffffff
CPJ = Richt's biotchboy
November 29th, 2009
1:42 pm
Richt just slapped Turkey Neck Johnson around like a fat kid!!! All this without his best player even on the field!!!
The Grinch
November 29th, 2009
1:42 pm
you heard it here…..tech will finish #5…..in the SEC East….BWAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!!
OrangeCrush
November 29th, 2009
1:42 pm
It “stings” doesn’t it? LMAO 30-24 and there’s not a damn thing you can do but cry about it until next year. Cya LOSER!
Reggie Ball
November 29th, 2009
1:42 pm
Paul Johnson was found passed out under a table at the Pink Pony this morning. He was wearing a Navy uniform murmuring something about Ealey being an unstoppable robot experiment gone awry.
Mark Richt OWNS you
November 29th, 2009
1:43 pm
Richt is now 12-1 against the worst D-IA football conference in the country
The Grinch
November 29th, 2009
1:43 pm
So how did that extra week off to prepare for UGA work out for you?
BWAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!!
this game means the world to tech!!!!
November 29th, 2009
1:44 pm
HEY MARYETA DAWG …tech is great academically ..they just suck at football!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!lmfao..oh its because of their upbringing in the A–thletically, C–hallenged, C–onference!!!!!! lmfao
HungryDawg
November 29th, 2009
1:45 pm
Hey tools, which hurts worse? Losing to a horrible UGA team with two weeks to prepare and knowing UGA didn’t have their best player? Or losing to your own medicine? 415 yards!!! OUCH!!!
BillO'Liar
November 29th, 2009
1:46 pm
Tech has never ever ever ever ever had the slightest sniff of academic problems. Why Reggie Ball can count all the way to 3 and Little Joe knows how to measure out a lid without fail. Reuben Houston is pre-business too. Look at that sweet transaction he made. Professorial candidates all.
Proud Bug
November 29th, 2009
1:46 pm
I don’t know what all you guys are being so uppity about. We love playing on the blue turf and always
will!!!!!
"student" athletes...LMFAO!!!!
November 29th, 2009
1:47 pm
Could anyone understand a word “BeBe” was saying on the sideline anytime the cameras were on him? His tribal speak was most odd
GTbillb
November 29th, 2009
1:49 pm
Reggie Ball that’s why We are glad you are gone. You might have been their bit*h, but that’s not the attitude around Tech now. At least this team lost after giving a great comeback effort instead of throwing it out of bounds on 4th down. Oh and what is Ga ranked?
Yes it sucks to lose to an inferior mediocre team but life goes on. Go TECH THE HELL WITH GA!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Reggie Ball
November 29th, 2009
1:50 pm
Mayretta_Dawg I majored in Sports Management and proud of it. So no I’m not stupid and yes I can count to 4! I’ve lost everything in the last 12 hours so give me a break. I invested my life savings in having custom sweaters knitted up with “Tech Owns UGA 2009″. I have 1000 of them if anyone is interested. I’ve slashed the price to $10 each.
this game means the world to tech!!!!
November 29th, 2009
1:50 pm
You techies keep reminding Paul the savior Johnson that this game doesn’t mean much and you may lose 8 more in a row,,,,roflmfao
yechschmeck
November 29th, 2009
1:51 pm
Hey GTbillb, hell would be that sh*thole you call a stadium. We were there already and kicked your loser azz. Cry a little more b*tch.
Johnny Test
November 29th, 2009
1:52 pm
ORANGE BOWL….. You are probably Ramble ON in disguise. You are not in the Orange bowl yet and you will not beat Clemson. Nesbitt won’t play. When the feeling comes back into his ankle he won’t be able to walk. They shot him up with so much pain killer last night he didn’t know where he was.
If they could choose I am sure the Orange bowl would rather have a 7 and 5 SEC team than a 10 and 2 ACC team. Tech is not going to the orange bowl. Book It.
30-24 We're just better than you.
November 29th, 2009
1:52 pm
Did Caleb just score AGAIN???
GT is a 4th rate high school team
November 29th, 2009
1:54 pm
ATHENS NEW ITEM: UGA TO RETIRE 2 PLAYERS NUMBER I.E. D. THOMAS AND NESBITT, JUST LIKE TEHY DID TO REGGIE BALL. HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA FOREVER
Johnny Test
November 29th, 2009
1:54 pm
GT BILL, UGA is ranked #1 in Georgia. When Tech loses to Clemson and in a bowl game like they always do they won’t be ranked anywhere. But then that’s normal for tech isn’t it? Go back to D&D.
mikey
November 29th, 2009
1:54 pm
Anyone else find it comical that the Yechers always fallback on their academic “superiority” bs, yet you always see every high school dropout, turned rapper, on their sidelines while they blast their uneducated songs?
Just a thought
Sanford Drive
November 29th, 2009
1:54 pm
GTbill,
UGA isn’t ranked. That’s what makes this win even more hilarious! UGA is terrible and Tech got creamed by them.
Let’s review:
-2 weeks to prepare vs. 1 week to prepare
-#7 in the country vs. 6-5
-offensive juggernaut vs Willie Martinez
It’s just sad. The ACC is a joke. Face it.
Fed Ex ORANGE BOWL
November 29th, 2009
1:55 pm
GT will finish 12-2,
not 7-6
this game means the world to tech!!!!
November 29th, 2009
1:55 pm
enjoy it while you can dawgs..at least 364 more days, and tech fans……well there is always next year..and now there are zero acc teams in the top ten,like i said yesterday no way two acc teams finish in the top ten at years end…enjoy the orange bowl you are officially the second best team in your own state!!!
GT is a 4th rate high school team
November 29th, 2009
1:56 pm
TO GTbiilb, UNRANKED UGA TRASHES NUMBER 7 GT. HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA FOREVER
30-24 We're just better than you.
November 29th, 2009
1:57 pm
This was to be expected.
Sanford Drive
November 29th, 2009
1:57 pm
I can’t believe Tech fans are bragging about finishing 12-2.
You guys play in the women’s league! hahahahaha
GT is a 4th rate high school team
November 29th, 2009
1:57 pm
SO SWEET TO TRASH A PRETENDER, HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA FOREVER
this game means the world to tech!!!!
November 29th, 2009
1:57 pm
please review that one more time Sanford…d.rive blogger..these tech fans are brilliant academically but real slow on football…would you review that for them again so when we conduct class tomorrow they will understand!!!
bugspray
November 29th, 2009
1:58 pm
How bad do you think the beating would have been had the best player for either team been on the field? AJ was probably laughing his tail off!!!
FedEx ORANGE BOWL-Book It
November 29th, 2009
1:58 pm
12-2 Georgia Tech, book it,
………………………7-6 UGA
this game means the world to tech!!!!
November 29th, 2009
1:59 pm
Football 101, take it in Athens, Tech is dropping that class from their curriculum,,rolling on the floor laughing my f***n a*** off!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
GT is a 4th rate high school team
November 29th, 2009
1:59 pm
NEW ITEM: ORANGE BOWL SAYS ITS A SHAME TO HAVE GT OR CLEMSON PLAYING IN THEIR BOWL. HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA FOREVER
Reggie Ball
November 29th, 2009
1:59 pm
GTBill I AM a legend. You are not. We could have used me last night. Nesbitt should be benched for the championship. He exposed our offense for what it is, a high school, div 2 hybrid of sh*t. And throwing the ball out of bounds on 4th down happens all the time when your coaches don’t prepare you correctly. Don’t hate the player who brought you glory hate the coaches. It wasn’t my fault.