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
killerJ
November 29th, 2009
12:18 am
Hey Crickets,Not To Mention A Team That Haven,t Beat You In 33 Years Dumb A #$%^ss At Your Place.Thats What I call No Competition,At Least You Had To Squeak Out A win.OH,If Thomas Would Of Caught That Pass!
Saint Dawg
November 29th, 2009
12:19 am
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Jeff Schultz
November 29th, 2009
12:19 am
UGA Rolls Over Tech — If I thought I had that much influence, I would jump into the stock market. But I’ll take credit if you want to give me some. Congrats.
SAINT SIMONS DOES M
November 29th, 2009
12:19 am
IT’S JUST A GAME DAWG!!!!!!!!!!!!!!HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAH
Big Hairy Dudads
November 29th, 2009
12:19 am
Ga. Tech coach: Georgia just another game from the AP
That would explain the rings with last years score…CPJ was scared before the game….Now we know why.
Sanford Drive
November 29th, 2009
12:19 am
Ramble,
Thanks for the imposter post @12:15. I’m glad you Tech fans care THAT much. I love knowing that it hurts that much.
It’s true our bowl game won’t be as good as yours, but that doesn’t change the fact that Tech is #2 in the state.
Navigator
November 29th, 2009
12:19 am
I’ll make no excuses, as UGA led start to finish. PJohnson had better learn in future recruiting that a big powerful defense will win more close games than a big powerful offense. Can anyone tell me why he tried 3 hail Mary’s at the UGA 45 yard line with 1 min and 40 seconds???????? PJohnson may have turned the program around, but if he wants to take his program higher, he can’t let the opposing coach out coach him, and that’s what Richt did. He dared Tech to stop his running and they never did.
You have it all figured out:
November 29th, 2009
12:19 am
Dave from GT , don’t fool yourself about this. Also Georgia had a pretty good player or two out that didn’t play at all.
Jeff Schultz
November 29th, 2009
12:19 am
Wheresschultzy — Right here, bud.
HAHAHA St Simons Sucks
November 29th, 2009
12:20 am
((((((((30-24)))))))))))…………yall are getting it every day for a year!!!! NERDS NERDS NERDS NERDS NERDS YOU SUCK!
Saint UGAVII
November 29th, 2009
12:20 am
ACC Champ = SEC East #4!
hahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahaha
Will Walmart take my Tech flag back?
November 29th, 2009
12:20 am
Just bought it for the game. Just curious?
Deep South Dawg
November 29th, 2009
12:20 am
All I have to say—-Is Jeff Shultz suck my bizzzllllleee!!!!! You got this prediction wrong Biot******!!!! and St. Simons….you can suck my hizzzzzzzle!!!!!! 30-24 biotc???????? You can suck my rectum HO! The red and Black won it tonight, because your supposed best reciever on the team can’t catch!!!! You can suck on it for a year!!!!
Dave from GT's Momma
November 29th, 2009
12:20 am
Dave….honey, the more you make excuses the more you look like an idiot and a waste of my hard earned money for your tuition! Don’t discuss your inferior opponents bowl games! Especially when they just handed your ass to you! Silly Nerd!!!!!! Wish I’d have wiped my rear good!
dawgfan
November 29th, 2009
12:20 am
Good game Tech! Now you know that last year was a fluke.
Dawg Central
November 29th, 2009
12:21 am
Where are all the Ga. Tech fans????? I told them that UGA was their “DADDY” and always would be!! And I told them that that Offense of Paul Johnson sucked against good teams……Paul Johnson isn’t a good coach, that idiot had Nesbitt throwing bombs with 1:40 left on the clock inside the 50…what a freaking idiot…..UGA was the better running team tonight….almost 400 yards rushing the ball….Dwyer had 33 yds rushing…..Tech u suck, your coach sucks…..enjoy the ACC championship game…..lol….what a watered down game…….Carolina and UGA handed out ass whoopings to the best in the ACC today……again I say Tech fans….who is your “DADDY”…??? Thats right, UGA!!
Right On Time
November 29th, 2009
12:21 am
Is it supposed to be a big deal to win this week.?
I mean it was Yech, right? 8 out of 9? They have not won in 2 decades without cheating, right?
No big deal…another win over the geeks.
Saint Simons
November 29th, 2009
12:21 am
it’s 4th and 10 and a perfect pass from nesbitt to thomas. thomas gets past the 1st down marker and drops the ball.
HAHAHAHAHAHA!!! shows that you can’t pass or catch!!!
UGA 30 – GT 24!!!
LOSERS!!!!!!!
http://www.firepauljohnson.com
Paul Williams
November 29th, 2009
12:21 am
First of all, SHUT UP GA TECH. I love the ACC Championship now-are they playing for 7th best team in the SEC? Tech wouldn’t be .500 in the SEC.
Hopefully, the coaching improvements start tomorrow; this doesn’t change the fact that we still need two coordinators. Our DBs were way too soft, and the playcalling was still brutal in a few situations.
Why put Branden Smith at TB when things were going so well? Why throw a screen behind the line on that crucial 3rd and 3 in the 4th quarter? When you are running as well as we were you don’t need to get so darn cute. Bobo may have a place on the staff but we MUST have a mature OC as well as an entire new defensive scheme.
With the right coaches, and a decent QB, this team can be awesome next season.
And did I mention that the North Avenue Nerds can just SHUT UP!! I thought the messiah, Paul Johnson, panicked in the last two minutes. He had plenty of time to go down the field 10 or 15 yards at a time, and he threw 3 straight bombs! Stupid, stupid, stupid.
“Shift of power” my butt. Shut up nerds and GO DAWGS! 8 out of 9!
SAINT SIMONS DOES M
November 29th, 2009
12:21 am
BUY AN ACC CHUMPIONSHIP TICKET GET A FREE COKE AND A DAWG!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Jeff Schultz
November 29th, 2009
12:21 am
IlliniDawg — Teams play good, teams play bad. I write what I see. I’ve got no dog in this hunt (no pun intended). Congrats.
FROM THE ACC HOME OFFICE IN CHARLOTTE, NC
November 29th, 2009
12:21 am
BREAKING NEWS: The ACC has just announced that Ga Tech and Clemson will not play for the ACC championship. The South Carolina Gamecocks and Georgia Bulldogs will take their place next Saturday night in Tampa…
HEHEHEHEHEHE
This message brought to you by the ACC…at least we have basketball!
TECH SUCKS
November 29th, 2009
12:22 am
30-24!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Dawgs beat the NERDS in their own stadium haha. Have fun at the library techies. SEC owns the ACC!
HAHAHA St Simons Sucks
November 29th, 2009
12:22 am
jaybooooooooooo shaw is the best thing since reggie ball!!!
Dawg 1
November 29th, 2009
12:22 am
For the few Tech fans who at least tried to reply back. Don’t even try the December 5th comment. You have to know by now that if you played in the SEC, you would have been exposed a long time ago.
Schultz, you sound like an apologist. Tech was RAN OVER on the field and OUT COACHED tonight. That’s right… OUT COACHED! If the roles had been reversed and that had been UGA throwing (with Tech’s scheme and players) you would have been screaming from the rafters about UGA incompetent coaching.
Tech fans false hopes and ignorance is one thing; the pathetic sucking up that the AJC Sports writers has done with CPJ is sickening. Maybe, just maybe you’ll be just a little more critical of the ‘North Avenue Genius’.
uga1989
November 29th, 2009
12:22 am
Does anybody remember when Georgia last lost at Grant Field? I’m trying to think…let’s see…not 2009, not 2007, not 2005, not 2003, not 2001. Oh, that’s right, 1999! Ten years ago! TEN YEARS AGO! 30-24!!! 30-24!!! 30-24!!! 30-24!!! 30-24!!! 30-24!!! 30-24!!! 30-24!!! 30-24!!! 30-24!!! 30-24!!! 30-24!!! 30-24!!! 30-24!!! 30-24!!!
Hairy's Balls
November 29th, 2009
12:22 am
Tech Fans:
Do you realize you just lost to the worst Georgia team I’ve seen on the field in the past 20 years???
You’re defense has more holes than Tebow’s girlfriend.
Mike T.
November 29th, 2009
12:22 am
Georgia gets win number 60 in the series.
Jeff Schultz
November 29th, 2009
12:22 am
Dawg A– Not hiding. I was doing something called work. I’m here. BTW, I’m allergic to cats.
bargain bin
November 29th, 2009
12:23 am
4 tix, 4 hot dogs, 4 cokes!!!
Right On Time
November 29th, 2009
12:23 am
Hey Jeff,
Type something funny. Like “Lumpy Johnson is a superior coach”.
I need a laugh right now.
Dawg Central
November 29th, 2009
12:23 am
And we beat Tech without our best offensive weapon….and best reciever in the country….AJ Green
Tech Down
November 29th, 2009
12:23 am
Hang it up bugs—Ga is the better team. Ga tech’s record is only due to playing weak teams in a weak conference. In the SEC, tech would have 4-5 losses. It’s hard to be humble when you’re a dawg!!!!!!!!! 30-24!!!!!!!!!
DawgsCRUSHJackets
November 29th, 2009
12:23 am
ACC HAHAHAHAHAHHAHAHAHA
Ga. Tech #7 HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA
UGA 30-24 HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA
And we did it without a QB, AJ Green and Rambo. LOLOLOLOLOLO:
Saint Simons
November 29th, 2009
12:24 am
Hey Tech Fans, the AP just reported that Coach Paul Johnson has just changed his name to Paula Johnson and will go into hiding for the next 364 days in the state of Georgia.
The Grinch
November 29th, 2009
12:24 am
8 out of 9 …… right, the rivalry’s back. BWAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!
GT is a high school team
November 29th, 2009
12:24 am
NCAA demands UGA and South Carolina for ACC Championship. HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA Forever
Krebs
November 29th, 2009
12:24 am
Wow, cannot believe people are getting so emotional about this game. Remember what PJ said it’s just another game.
Jeff Schultz
November 29th, 2009
12:24 am
Top Dawg — on what?
Flo-Ri-Duh!
November 29th, 2009
12:24 am
NOW which #8 is better…….. Bey Bey droped toe ball and the game.
Right On Time
November 29th, 2009
12:24 am
uga1989:
That was not a loss!!! That was a theft!!! These geeks don’t win without cheating.
No Name Fan
November 29th, 2009
12:24 am
Hey dawgs just think, if you were in the ACC now you would be in the Acc playoff game. Clemons got whipped by the SEC. S. Car. and now Tech. These are supposed to be the best in the ACC. You need to switch over.
St Simons Sucks
November 29th, 2009
12:24 am
((((((((30-24))))))))))) Im glad it hurts so damn much techies….its not going to get any better either. At least youre used to it. If you havent figured it out by now….learn your roll (2nd best in the state) Like it, and STFU!!!!!! WE OWN YOU.
mcgdawg
November 29th, 2009
12:25 am
LET THE BIG DAWG EAT….on Saint Simon, m, NERDS, Yellow Fuzz, GT4EVER, Pisson a nerd, dagnabit, cltgfan, Doug, Blaine Childs, Brandon, ENGY, Ramble ON, Nick Black, and PC. Go back to playing nerd games on your pc in your Mommy’s basement!!!
Michael McClure
November 29th, 2009
12:25 am
Nothing sucks like Tech and the Big Orange. You St. Simons and Lame in Knoxville both need to understand one thing. We will be back next fall. Run Georgia…Run Georgia!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
BitDawgBarking
November 29th, 2009
12:25 am
History always repeats itself when you’re Tech. The big roll over and spread em started tonight.
Ghost of Chan Gailey
November 29th, 2009
12:25 am
Ya’ll fired me for this guy ??!!
DawgsCRUSHJackets
November 29th, 2009
12:26 am
Headline: Worst UGA team in years WHIPS the best GA. Tech team in years! I guess Ga. Tech learned what is was like playing a real team from the SEC. Not the Duke’s, WF, Virginia of the world.
Mike T.
November 29th, 2009
12:26 am
And Tech thought they might get to play for the national championship.
Right On Time
November 29th, 2009
12:26 am
On my way to Tamp….who’s in?????